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5. I SAID THAT I WOULD EXPLAIN THIS BACKGROUND TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. THE DECISION TO ISSUE A VISA RESTED WITH THEM. I HOPED THAT, GIVEN THE ASSURANCES WHICH HE HAD EXPRESSED TO ME, WOULD BE ABLE TO DO SO SUBJECT TO THE USUAL DECLARATION OF NON- POLITICAL ACTIVITY. HE SAID THAT THAT WOULD CAUSE HIM NO
DIFFICULTY.
6.
IN THE MEANTIME, THE FOREIGN MINISTRY ARE PRESSING ME OVER THE VISAS FOR THE CHAIRMAN AND OFFICIALS OF THE COUNCIL OF LABOR AFFAIRS. I SAID THAT I HOPED A DECISION WOULD BE TAKEN LATER TODAY BUT I TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE DOUBTS AS TO WHETHER IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO HAVE ANY CONTACT BETWEEN THEM AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS DURING THE SECOND LEG OF THEIR JOURNEY THROUGH HONG KONG. THIS DID NOT SEEM TO CAUSE ANY PROBLEM.
COMMENT
7. GIVEN JASON HU'S UNDERTAKING AND HIS PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE TO US RIGHT NOW, AS EXPLAINED IN PARA 1 OF THE SECOND TUR, I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF THE GOVERNOR COULD AGREE TO ISSUE A VISA FOR JASON HU. I AM SLIGHTLY CONFUSED BY HU'S REFERENCE TO A MULTIPLE ENTRY VISA FOR HONG KONG. THIS WAS PROBABLY UNDER A PREVIOUS APPLICATION WHICH HAS NOW EXPIRED. I THINK WE CAN RELY ON HU TO AVOID ANY SITUATIONS WHICH MIGHT BE EMBARRASSING FOR US. HIS VISIT TO HONG KONG WILL THEREFORE BE AS MUCH A TEST FOR HIM AS IT IS FOR US. FOR HIM NOW TO HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO HIS AUTHORITIES, AND IN PARTICULAR HIS PRIME MINISTER, THAT HE HAS BEEN REFUSED A VISA WOULD BE PARTICULARLY UNFORTUNATE. OUR HOPE IS THAT LIEN CHEN WILL BE TAKING A FINAL DECISION ON THE AEROSPACE JOINT VENTURE ON 28 JUNE (MY TELNO 172). SIMILARLY, REFUSAL OF A VISA FOR THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF LABOR AFFAIRS COULD HAVE AN EQUALLY NEGATIVE EFFECT.
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