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(MFA) IN THE PAST WEEK REGARDING THEIR PROPOSAL TO OPEN AN OFFICE
IN HONG KONG. THE CHINESE HAD RAISED NO OBJECTION, BUT HAD
EXPLAINED THAT THIS WAS A MATTER FOR HMG.
3.
HUM RESPONDED ON THE LINES THAT BOTH HMG AND HONG KONG
(WHOM WE HAD CONSULTED) WELCOMED ICRC'S PROPOSAL IN PRINCIPLE.
HE ADDED THAT MATTERS AFFECTING THE EXACT STATUS AND TREATMENT
ACCORDED ICRC'S OFFICE IN HONG KONG WOULD BE A MATTER FOR HKG TO
CONSIDER UNDER LOCAL LEGISLATION, BUT HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT HONG
KONG WOULD DO WHAT IT COULD TO HELP. THERE WAS THUS NO OBSTACLE
TO AN EARLY ICRC VISIT TO HONG KONG TO DISCUSS DETAILS.
4.
(A)
(B)
(C)
HUM THEN RAISED FOLLOWING POINTS:
ICRC WOULD OF COURSE BE AWARE OF THE SENSITIVITIES OF
HONG KONG'S POSITION AND THE NEED TO ACT WITH THEIR USUAL
TACT AND DISCRETION, PARTICULARLY AS REGARDS THEIR
ACTIVITIES IN CHINA AND TAIWAN. XUNG FULLY ACKNOWLEDGED
THIS, AND ADDED THAT FOR ICRC THE 'CHINESE QUESTION' HAD
LONG BEEN RESOLVED IN PEKING'S FAVOUR, A SITUATION NOW
ACCEPTED BY TAIPEI. HE SAID THE ICRC HAD LONG BEEN INVOLVED,
WITHIN THE SUPPORT OF THE CHINESE AND TAIWANESE AUTHORITIES,
IN RE-ESTABLISHING FAMILY LINKS BETWEEN CHINA AND TAIWAN.
BECAUSE OF ITS CIRCUMSTANCES HONG KONG HAD TO APPLY A
RESTRICTIVE POLICY ON ISSUE OF VISAS TO EASTERN BLOC
VISITORS. KUNG SAID ICRC WERE FULLY ABLE TO TAKE ACCOUNT
OF LOCAL SENSITIVITIES OF THIS KIND AND IN ANY EVENT
HOWEVER HE
-
ICRC'S OWN REPRESENTATIVES WERE ALL SWISS.
TOOK NOTE OF THE POINT.
IF DISCUSSIONS WITH HONG KONG WENT WELL AND ICRC DECIDED
TO PROCEED, HMG WOULD WISH TO MENTION TO THE CHINESE THAT
ICRC'S PROPOSAL FOR A HONG KONG OFFICE WAS TO GO AHEAD.
KUNG FULLY ASSENTED TO THIS.
5.
IN CONCLUSION HUM ASKED HOW KUNG WISHED TO PROCEED. KUNG
SAID THAT OLIVIER, HIS DEPUTY-DESIGNATE, WOULD LIKE TO VISIT HONG
KONG IN MID-JANUARY 1987, AND THAT ICRC HOPED TO OPEN AN OFFICE
AROUND MARCH. ICRC WOULD BE HAPPY TO DISCUSS ARRANGEMENTS FOR
THEIR OFFICE'S STATUS WITH HONG KONG, AND STRESSED THAT ICRC'S
MAIN WISH WAS THAT WHATEVER ARRANGEMENTS WERE AGREED SHOULD BE AS
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