TNAG-0515-FCO40-580-Restrictions-on-visits-of-nationals-from-Soviet-Bloc-to-Hong-1974 — Page 4

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

CONFIDENTIAT

British Embassy Budapest

RECEIVED

REGISTRY No.52 19 NOV 1974

INKK 22/2

20

A Stuart Esq

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept

F CO

Your reference

Our reference

Date

8 November 1974

Dem Stuart,

LAST

REF.

(19)

NEXT

REF.

(21)

HONG KONG TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

1.

Sir Y K Kan and party were in Budapest on 16 and 17 October after their visit to Bucharest and were well received, as on previous occasions, by the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and various enterprises. Mikardo was their mentor here too.

Mr Ian

2. I net them on this visit and, again as previously, they told me that they had come under pressure about visas, a subject which Sir Y K Kan seemed happy to discuss in the bar of the Duna Intercontinental Hotel. He is well aware of the conflict of interests in Hong Kong on this matter and admits that it is one for the Hong Kong Government to resolve. I am not sure, however, how far he subscribes to the policy mentioned in paragraph 3 of your letter dated 31 October to Dorman. He is clearly in favour of some liberalisation as far as business visitors are concerned and claimed in support of his case that Russian ships were very often tied up alongside in the harbour. If this is the case and crew members are allowed to go ashore with reasonable ease, it seems a bit odd that business visitors whose arrival is announced well in advance by their visa application are not allowed in, or only rarely. 3. I made sure that Sir Y K Kan, and anyone else in the bar who might have been listening, knew that any delay in issuing visas was not due to our dilatoriness in handling applications.

11, Din/widdy to

We had better shoot down this

лижён

Your minist

в но

shoot down this C Hayward

duck as well, after consulting with EESD. Could you fee

Copy to:

Letter

R B Dornan Esq

Bucharest.

PA 88 25/11

CONFIDENTIAL

draft? Des 15/11

бар

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