CONFIDENTIAL
Tamsui telegram No. 1 to Foreim Office
-2-
40
3.
recognition. If after recognition Chinese travel documents immediately become invalid and I cease all Chinese visa duties there will be another period of stalemate. The public who already regard our staff and fee stamp shortages as a deliberate means of holding up visas will naturally conclude that these regulations were merely part of a delaying action whose ultimate aim was complete severance of communications after recognition. This will lay us open to accusations of bad faith and further aggravate discontent at the time of recognition. If further restrictions or change of procedure are deemed necessary I consider it important they be delayed until a few weeks after recognition when discontent will have subsided and that Hong Kong's latest regulations be maintained for the present.
Validity of Nationalist travel documents seens to be the only immediate problem raised by recognition. In view of paragraph 2(c) above I suggest that we continue to recognise them until alternative arrange- ments have been made and that in due course we should either recognise Frovincial [sic] Government documents or ourselves issue Hong Kong entry permits which will also serve as travel documents. However I appreciate other territories are also involved.
4. I have returned from Hong Kong with a clearer understanding of Hong Kong's problems and feel that our exchange of views was valuable. However in view of your desire that I maintain relations with the local authorities I consider the ultimate decision on post- recognition visa procedure should be made in London and I should be grateful for your final instructions before recognition is announced.
Foreign Office please pass to Hong Kong as my immediate telegram No. 1.
[Copies sent to Telegraph Section Colonial Office for repetition to Hong Kong.]
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