CONFIDENTIAL
BACKGROUND
Visas
1.
Chinese visitors to the UK, and British businessmen on behalf of Chinese businessmen, complain about the length of time it takes for a visa to be issued. At the Embassy in Peking, the majority of short-term visas are issued within 5 working days, and long-term visas within one month. Delays, where they have occured, are due mainly to late or incomplete applications, but there have been technical problems (computer breakdowns). We are working towards further improvement of operations.
2. A significant problem last year was the unexpected need to replace two Chinese members of staff withdrawn without notice we have to rely on the Chinese Diplomatic Bureau. We would like to see staff replacements made (when requested) and by experienced staff rather than by those unfamiliar with the work.
Tibet
3. The most recent demonstrations in Lhasa (10 December) were brought up by Lord Avebury during a debate in the House of Lords on 14 December. The severity of the Chinese People's Armed Police by firing into the crowd of demonstrators, killing at least 2 monks, was surprising. There is a well-publicised campaign by Tibet lobby groups aimed at drawing attention of the Government to the behaviour of the Chinese in Tibet. Western observers, including a British national (Danny Gittings, son of John Gittings, Foreign Editor of the Guardian) claim that more people were killed than the official Chinese media
MB1ABT
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CONFIDENTIAL