CONFIDENTIAL
SO
040013
MDLIAN 2570
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY HANOI
TELNO 82
OF 210811Z SEPTEMBER 90
INFO ROUTINE F CO
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AKB 345/!
FOR AMBASSADOR FROM POLITICAL ADVISER YOUR TELNO 74 (NOT TO FCO): VISAS
770
my
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
THE GOVERNOR HAS ASKED ME TO INVESTIGATE THE QUESTIONS RAISED IN TUR. ON THE SPECIFIC EXAMPLE YOU QUOTE, THE GROUP WISHED TO COME TO HK FOR AN EXPLORATORY BUSINESS MEETING. AS YOU KNOW, UNTIL RECENTLY SUCH AN APPLICATION WOULD HAVE BEEN REJECTED ON POLICY GROUNDS. IN THIS CASE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT SOUGHT THE VIEWS OF INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT, WHO FELT THAT FOR SUCH A MEETING NOT ALL THE PARTICIPANTS WERE REQUIRED. HENCE THE REFUSAL OF SOME
OF THE APPLICANTS. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THIS WAS NOT A DEVICE TO DENY THE WHOLE MISSION. IF WE HAD WISHED TO DO THAT, WE WOULD HAVE REFUSED ALL THE APPLICATIONS EXCLAM.
2.
I TAKE THE VIEW THAT THE DECISION IN THAT PARTICULAR CASE WAS DEBATABLE. BUT THE FACT IS THAT NEITHER THIS OFFICE NOR SENIOR IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS ARE ABLE TO SCRUTINISE
ALL ONE MILLION OF THE VISA APPLICATIONS HONG KONG RECEIVES
ANNUALLY. PROBLEMS WITH GREY AREA CASES (IF YOU WILL EXCUSE THE
PUN) ARE ALWAYS GOING TO ARISE.
3.
IF/WHEN THEY DO, I HOPE YOU WILL BE WILLING TO FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES PROPOSED DURING YOUR LAST VISIT HERE, I.E. ALERT THE POLITICAL ADVISER'S OFFICE. IF WE ARE TOLD ABOUT A PARTICULAR PROBLEM WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO CLEAR IT UP. FOR OUR PART, WE WILL IF POSSIBLE IN FUTURE INCLUDE REASONS FOR REJECTION IN OUR VISA
TELS. EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER COMMUNIST COUNTRIES SUGGESTS THAT THE
MAIN REASONS WILL BE INSUFFICIENT TIME TO CARRY OUT SECURITY
CHECKS OR THAT THE SPONSOR HAS WITHDRAWN HIS SUPPORT.
WILSON
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