CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 717
HKB
400
RECEIVED IN R
BY
15 MAR 1990
OF 26103OZ FEBRUARY 90 DUSK OFFICER
AND TO IMMEDIATE CARACANDEX
INFO ROUTINE PEKING
(82)
001324
MDHIAN 8569
TOP COPY Q DIST
PRC CITIZENS STRANDED AT KAI TAK AIRPORT
TAK
1. A GROUP OF 24 PRC NATIONALS HAVE BEEN STRANDED AT KAI AIRPORT SINCE 21 FEBRUARY AFTER BRITISH AIRWAYS REFUSED TO ALLOW THEM TO BOARD A FLIGHT TO CARACAS VIA LONDON.
2. THE GROUP (18 MEN, 5 WOMEN, 1 CHILD) ALL HOLD VALID PRC PASSPORTS, WITH VENEZUELAN VISAS ISSUED IN CARACAS. THEY WERE OFF- LOADED FROM THEIR FLIGHT AFTER BA DISCOVERED THAT THEIR VISAS WERE SUSPECT. THE HANDLING AGENTS, JARDINE AIRWAYS HAVE ON TWO OCCASIONS MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THEM TO RETURN TO THEIR PORT OR ORIGIN, GUANGZHOU. BUT THEY REFUSED TO BOARD THE AIRCRAFT FOR FEAR THAT THEIR PASSPORTS WOULD BE CANCELLED BY THE PRC AUTHORITIES ON THEIR RETURN.
3. BA HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE VENEZUELAN CONSULATE-GENERAL. APPARENTLY THE VISAS ARE RE-ENTRY VISAS FOR TEMPORARY RESIDENTS RETURNING TO RESUME RESIDENCE IN VENEZUELA. THEY WERE SUPPOSEDLY ISSUED IN CARACAS. THESE HOLDERS DID NOT HAVE A RESIDENTIAL ENDORSEMENT. THE C-G SUSPECTS THAT THEY WERE GENUINELY (I.E. KNOWINGLY?) ISSUED THROUGH FRAUDULENT MEANS.''
4. BA'S AGENT IN CARACAS HAS NOTIFIED JARDINE AIRWAYS THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING PRECISE INSTRUCTIONS WITH REGARD TO THE ADMITTANCE OF CHINESE CITIZENS INTO VENEZUELA:
(I) ANY PERSONS HOLDING PRC OR HONG KONG PASSPORTS WITH VENEZUELAN VISAS ISSUED IN VENEZUELA AND CALLED 'VISA DE LEGALISATION'' WILL NOT BE ALLOWED INTO THE COUNTRY:
(II) PEOPLE WITH THE ABOVE PASSPORTS HOLDING SPECIAL LETTERS OF AUTHORITY OR ANY OTHER LAISSER-PASSER OR TOURIST CARD WITHOUT VISA STAMPED IN PASSPORT BY VENEZUELAN CONSULATES OUTSIDE VENEZUELA CHK OR PEKING) WILL NOT BE ALLOWED INTO VENEZUELA:
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CONFIDENTIAL