CONFIDENTIAL
HK B
400 11
013105
MDHIAN 9033
RY
VAR X
CONFIDENTIAL
FM CARACAS
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 51
OF 282101Z FEBRUARY 1990
INFO DESKBY 01010OZ HONG KONG
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
82
1
HONG KONG TELNO 717: PRC CITIZENS STRANDED AT KATAK AIRPORT
KATAK
^
1 WE HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE CARACAS OFFICE OF BRITISH AIRWAYS. THE LOCAL MANAGER, WALKER, TELLS US THAT BA IN CARACAS HAS NOT (NOT) NOTIFIED JARDINE AIRWAYS (WHOM WE UNDERSTAND TO BE AN AIRPORT HANDLING COMPANY, NOT AN AIRLINE) NOR ANYONE ELSE ALONG THE LINES DESCRIBED IN PARA 4 OF TUR. WALKER SURMISES THAT THE PRECISE INSTRUCTIONS WITH REGARD TO THE ADMITTANCE OF CHINESE CITIZENS INTO VENEZUELA CONTAINTED IN THAT PARAGRAPH ARE IN FACT INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN BY THE VENEZUELAN CONSULATE IN HONG KONG TO BRITISH AIRWAYS IN HONG KONG IN RESPONSE TO THE BA QUERY ADDRESSED TO THE CONSULATE ON 19 FEBRUARY.
2. WE ARE NOW SEEKING CONFIRMATION FROM THE INTERIOR MINISTRY IN CARACAS THAT THE 24 PRC PASSPORT HOLDERS WILL BE DENIED LANDING
IN VENEZUELA. GIVEN THE ATTENTION THIS WHOLE SUBJECT IS RECEIVING IN VENEZUELA, SUCH A DENIAL SEEMS VIRTUALLY INEVITABLE.
·
3. THE CARACAS PRESS OF 28 FEBRUARY CARRIES AN AFP REPORT FROM HONG KONG ABOUT THE 24 CHINESE STRANDED IN HONG KONG. 'ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL ADMINISTRATION'' THE VENEZUELAN CONSULATE CONSIDERS THAT THE PROBLEM IS ONE FOR CHINA, WHILE THE REPRESENTATIVES OF CHINA IN HONG KONG ARE REPORTED TO PUT THE RESPONSIBILITY ON THE
VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT. IT IS REPORTED THAT THE CONSULATE GENERAL
''HAS REVEALED THAT THE VISAS (OF THE STRANDED PASSENGERS) WERE NOT VALID''.
FITZHERBERT
YYYY
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