TNAG-0667-FCO40-816-Restrictions-on-issue-of-visas-to-nationals-of-Soviet-Bloc-c-1988 — Page 73

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IMMEDIATE

CYPHER CAT A

FM FCO 0312352 CONFIDENTIAL

tells

DESKBY PRAGUE 031500Z

CONFIDENTIAL

Mr Stefront: It I had been Consulted I would it are expressed Consdemble narrations about 'X' below.

Gort have a

DESKBY HONG KONG 0323882 The Homptions

hiramp

fem

TO IMMEDIATE PRAGUE TELNO 52 OF 3 MAR 77 votes) in these matters and on

1

our relating with

with the PRC

AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG. ME hart hem 100% behind them.

Thave

YOUR TELEGRAMS NOS 80 AND 31, HONG KONG TELNO 223 TO US, AND TELECON MACINNES/FIGGIS OF 2 MARCH:

Umband Samal

PROPOSED TRANSIT STOP OF CZECHOSLOVAK FOREIGN TRADE MINISTER.

1. WE HAVE CONSULTED THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES BY TELEPHONE ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL, AND HAVE EXPLAINED THAT, IF YOU WERE TO TAKE THE LINE SUGGESTED IN PARAGRAPH 3 OF HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO 371 TO YOU, THIS WOULD TEND TO INCREASE EXISTING STRAINS IN OUR RELATIONS WITH CZECHOSLOVAKIA, FOLLOWING PUBLICATION THERE OF THE CHARTER 77 MANIFESTO AND ENSUING BILATERAL EXCHANGES.

WE HAVE ALSO EXPLAINED THAT AN APPARENTLY DELIBERATE REBUFF (YOUR TELNO 82) MIGHT WELL DAMAGE THE ENCOURAGING PROSPECTS FOR BRITISH EXPORTS TO CZECHOSLOVAKIA FOLLOWING LAST WEEK'S VISIT TO BRITAIN BY CZECHOSLOVAK MINISTER OF GENERAL ENGINEERING, AND PERHAPS ALSO HONG KONG'S OWN TRADE WITH CZECHOSLOVAKIA. WE DO NOT KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT BARCAK'S TRAVEL PLANS TO BE ON FIRM GROUND IN SUGGESTING THAT HE COULD TRAVEL MORE SWIFTLY BY

ANOTHER ROUTE.

***

2. IN THESE EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES, WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WOULD RECONSIDER, AND LET YOU KNOW BY IMMEDIATE TELEGRAM DESK BY 040600 HOURS WHETHER YOU MAY ISSUE TRANSIT VISAS. IF, AS WE STRONGLY HOPE, THEY CAN AGREE, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT MAY WISH TO CONSIDER WHETHER AS A COURTESY THEY COULD ARRANGE FOR A CAR TO BE AT THE AIRPORT TO TAKE BARCAK AND UP TO TWO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PARTY ON A BRIEF TOUR OF HONG KONG. THIS WOULD MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO KEEP AN EYE ON THEM WHILE THEY ARE OUTSIDE THE AIRPORT PRECINCTS. OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PARTY WOULD OF COURSE HAVE TO REMAIN AT THE AIRPORT.

GRATEFUL IF HONG KONG WOULD COMMENT ON THIS IDEA IN THEIR

TELEGRAM TO YOU.

OWEN.

FILES

MVD

EESD FED

MR MURRAY

MR SUTHERLAND

EROTO

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