SECRET
155236 MDLIAN 9523
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 624
OF 19064OZ FEBRUARY 90
INFO ROUTINE BUDAPEST, PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
BUDAPEST TELNO 102 TO FCO: HUNGARY/HONG KONG
1. AS YOU ARE AWARE WE HAVE RECENTLY RELAXED CONSIDERABLY OUR VISA RESTRICTIONS FOR HUNGARIAN AND OTHER EASTERN EUROPEAN BUSINESSMEN COUT TELNO 3534 OF 23 OCTOBER 1989 REFERS). IN THE LIGHT OF POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN EASTERN EUROPE, WE ARE REVIEWING THE RESTRICTION ONCE MORE TO SEE IF FURTHER LIBERALISATION AND FASTER PROCESSING ARE JUSTIFIED. WE HAVE RECENTLY SOUGHT THE SECURITY SERVICE'S ADVICE ON THE THREAT NOW POSED BY THE INTELLIGENCE SERVICES OF THE VARIOUS EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. THEIR RESPONSE WILL BE AN IMPORTANT FACTOR FOR ANY FUTURE CHANGES IN OUR POLICY.
2. WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A DEVELOPMENT OF TWO-WAY TRADE BEFORE CONSIDERING THE FURTHER STEP OF ANY PERMANENT HUNGARIAN PRESENCE HERE. PERHAPS THE MOST POSITIVE APPROACH FOR BUDAPEST WOULD BE FOR THEM TO ENCOURAGE BONA FIDE BUSINESSMEN TO VISIT HONG KONG. IF THERE ARE STILL CASES WHERE THERE ARE DIFFICULTIES THEY COULD HELP US IMPROVE THE SYSTEM BY BRINGING THEM TO OUR ATTENTION AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.
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