CONFIDENTIAL
Low
Mr Barlow
HONG KONG VISAS FOR EAST EUROPEANS
1. I see from Hong Kong telegram No 22 to Tokyo that the Director of Immigration in Hong Kong authorised the issue of 3 day-visit visas for a party of 4 Poles, including the son and daughter-in-law of Gierek.
2.
If this was an exceptional decision, taken under the stimulus of Warsaw telegram No 193 drawing attention to the family relationship, I am concerned by the implications. Eastern Europe is an area where nepotism and personal contacts are much more important than they are in Britain. If the news of the Polish visit gets round, I foresee a rash of applications from East Europeans claiming to be the brothers and sisters of the men in power. In the past my department has loyally supported Hong Kong in refusing to admit Russians or East Europeans (except for Yugoslavs) whatever the circumstances. I think this a hard rule but a perfectly defensible one. What I do not think defensible is a policy of exceptions in important cases. It will not take long for HM Ambassadors to begin making the point that some applicants, even though not related to the Party First Secretary, are in a position to do much more harm or good to British interests.
3. I should be grateful if you could explore the background to this case with the 2 departments to which this minute is copied, and let me know whether or not the decision on the Gierek case could portend the breach in the dam which we have maintained for so long.
Азимим
J L Bullard
29 May 1974
cc MVD
HKIOD
Mr Meyer Mr Green
Mr Barlow
Eastern European & Soviet Dept
!IKIOD (Mr. Difunddy)
be
may
1. We spoke. I think it necemary to ack Hing Kay for an explanation of this apparent change of mind. Is the eff anomaly levened by the fast
was an application
I understand that Mr Stuart has already minuted to you about blis, He
is drafting
a letter to Hong Kong,
BH filmey
2015
CONFIDENTIAL
Rest
in
Meis
anyway
transit csas?
MSRow
29/5
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.