RESTRICTED
6
114632
MDLIAN 4271.
RESTRICTED
FM BEIRUT
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 81
•
OF 14073OZ FEBRUARY 92
AND TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
INFO ROUTINE PEKING
NT.
MY TELNO 71 (TO FCO ONLY):
SUMMARY
1.
1 HKD 345/3
RECE VEN
02 MAR 1992
чв
HONG KONG VISAS FOR LEBANESE
OFFICIAL LEBANESE REQUEST FOR LIFTING OF HONG KONG VISA REQUIREMENT.
DETAIL
2. AMBASSADOR HUSSEIN AL MUSSAWI (HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS DEPT, MFA) CALLED IN DHM ON 13 FEBRUARY FORMALLY TO REQUEST HMG'S ASSISTANCE IN PERSUADING THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO RELAX THEIR REQUIREMENT THAT LEBANESE HOLD HONG KONG VISAS BEFORE TRAVELLING. MUSSAWI SAID THAT THIS FOLLOWED UP THE NEWSPAPER REPORT ON 7 FEBRUARY (TUR REFERS).
3. MUSSAWI EXPLAINED THAT THE LEBANESE GOVERNMENT WISHED TO RETURN TO THE PRE-1985 ARRANGEMENT, I.E. LEBANESE COULD OBTAIN VISAS ON ARRIVAL IN HONG KONG. THE LEBANESE UNDERSTOOD WHY AT THAT TIME THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAD IMPOSED THE REQUIREMENT TO OBTAIN VISAS BEFORE TRAVELLING. TERRORISM HAD BEEN RIFE IN LEBANON AND THERE WAS NO GOVERNMENT CONTROL OVER LEBANESE LEAVING BEIRUT. BUT, THAT WAS NOT THE CASE NOW. LEGITIMATE LEBANESE BUSINESSMEN WERE BEING HARMED BY HAVING TO WAIT SOMETIMES UP TO 3 MONTHS FOR A VISA BEFORE BEING ABLE TO TRAVEL.
4.
TUCKNOTT SAID THAT HE UNDERSTOOD THE LEBANESE POSITION. BUT HMG COULD NOT EXERT PRESSURE ON AN INTERNAL MATTER. HAD THE LEBANESE APPROACHED THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES? MUSSAWI SAID NOT. THEIR AMBASSADORS IN LONDON AND PEKING HAD BEEN GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS TO APPROACH THE FCO AND THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR RESPECTIVELY TO ASK FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE. TUCKNOTT SAID THAT THEY WOULD PROBABLY RECEIVE THE SAME ADVICE.
COMMENT
1
PAGE
RESTRICTED