CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELNO 1390
OF 07025OZ MAY 91
CONFIDENTIAL
**** HKD 026/12
Receiver
& MAY 19.91
DESKUPT
NUCA
aken
INFO ROUTINE PRAGUE, BUDAPEST, WARSAW, PEKING
Not to us
MD.
42
PRAGUE TELNO MISC 77: VISIT TO HONG KONG BY CZECHOSLOVAK DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER.
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1 DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER MARTIN PALOUS, ACCOMPANIED BY SOUKUP AND HYKL, HELD DISCUSSIONS ON 29 APRIL WITH THE DEPUTY POLITICAL ADVISER, DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION, DIRECTOR OF PROTOCOL, ACTING SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, SECRETARY FOR SECURITY AND DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION.
2. THE VISITORS' MAIN INTEREST CLEARLY WAS TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING SOME FORM OF PASSPORTS FOR INVESTMENT SCHEME. THEY APPRECIATED OUR CONCERN THAT TALENTED PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE DRAWN AWAY FROM HONG KONG BY SUCH SCHEMES, AND SAID THE CZECH MFA WAS DISCUSSING WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARRANGEMENTS TO ENABLE THE GRANTING OF CZECH CITIZENSHIP TO INVESTORS WITHOUT THEM HAVING TO FULFIL RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS. THIS APPEARS TO BE IN LINE WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF THEIR THINKING IN PRAGUE TELNO
229.
3.
THE DELEGATION DISCUSSED WITH THE DIRECTOR OF PROTOCOL THE APPOINTMENT OF AN HONORARY CONSUL IN HONG KONG, BUT IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THEY ARE IN FACT MORE INTERESTED IN THE POSSIBILITY OF OPENING A FULL CONSULATE HERE. WE PROVIDED THEM WITH FACTS AND FIGURES (INCLUDING AVERAGE RENTAL RATES AND STAFF WAGES) AND SUGGESTED THAT WHEN THEY HAD DECIDED EXACTLY WHAT SORT OF REPRESENTATION THEY WISHED TO HAVE IN HONG KONG THEY SHOULD TELL YOU. AS WE HAVE JUST AGREED TO THE POLES OPENING A CONSULATE- GENERAL HERE, WE CANNOT SEE A GOOD REASON FOR REFUSING THE CZECHS.
4. WE ALSO DISCUSSED OUR PROPOSED VISA WAIVER ARRANGEMENT. PALOUS EXPLAINED THE SENSITIVITIES IN EASTERN EUROPE ABOUT FREE MOVEMENTS ACROSS BORDERS. THIS IS OF COURSE EASY TO UNDERSTAND. HOWEVER, WE BELIEVE THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION MAY HAVE ASSUAGED THEIR WORRIES BY POINTING OUT THAT IN THE PAST 25 YEARS WE HAVE NEVER REFUSED TO ACCEPT BACK A HONG KONG PERSON REMOVED FROM
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