TNAG-0667-FCO40-816-Restrictions-on-issue-of-visas-to-nationals-of-Soviet-Bloc-c-1988 — Page 8

CONFIDENTIAL

Reference.

HKK 345/509/1

46,

Mr Quantrill

Mr Stewart

Stewart

HONG KONG VISA FOR POLISH BISHOP

1.

No

06

We are being asked by both MVD and EESD to exert pressure on the Hong Kong Government to reverse their decision not to grant visas to the auxiliary Bishop of Gdansk and his Chancellor. Hong Kong have relented to some extent in this case in agreeing to grant a visa to the Bishop, but not his Chancellor, if he can obtain a Vatican service passport. MVD, however, believe this is likely to be impossible.

2.

Hong Kong's position on granting visas to East Europeans is well-known, but the circular explaining it, which was issued by this department in 1974, clearly states that each case will be treated on its merits. I am not convinced that proper consideration has been given in this case.

3. Hong Kong's decision to refuse, unless it was simply automatic, was presumably based on either a fear of Chinese reaction or of setting a precedent, or a mixture of the two. I have discussed this case with FED who very much doubt that the Chinese would object to the visit, particularly since it is to be to a legitimate international meeting which Russia could hardly be thought to have organised.

4.

The danger of setting a precedent is, in my view, remote given that there are only a limited number of East European Bishops, the visit can be in a personal capacity, it is to a Vatican-backed international meeting and the request has been supported by the Vatican.

5. I therefore recommend that we ask Hong Kong to reconsider and I attach a draft telegram. I have not as yet cleared this draft with other departments.

CODE 18-77

$S 10/76

25 November 1977

could

Shampan

J Thompson

Hong Kong & General Department

Discussed wit). I^allett, who agreed that before we

go track to Hong Kong

on this we should know for certain whether as not their last proposal is workable. He will chase with the Vatican and -let me know by Monday whether a Vatican service passport can be issed to Bishop Klug. If the answer is definite 'no' we

shall

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shall then be on tverground: goir, back to Hong Kong.

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us that Vatrean will be mied to Bishopsti

Chancellor. They asked if we would

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reconsider leave Quain hall agrees,

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Mr Stewart, Hong Kong & General Dept

VISAS FOR HONG KONG FOR TWO POLISH ECCLESIASTICS TO ATTEND THE XVI WORLD CONGRESS OF THE APOSTLESHIP OF THE SEA FROM 1-15 DECEMBER

1. Mr Mallett's minute of 23 November to your Department.

2. I am sorry to see from paragraph 5 of Mr Mallett's minute that it is unlikely that the Vatican will grant travel documents to the Bishop of Gdansk to enable him to attend the Conference in Hong Kong. As I understand it, the Governor of Hong Kong's policy is to consider visa applications from citizens of the countries of Eastern Europe on a case by case basis. If this is the position, surely the applications from the Bishop of Gdansk and his Chancellor should be considered on their merits? While this is a point for FED, it seems to me unlikely that the presence of two Polish clergymen in Hong Kong could cause offence to the Chinese. Nor, surely, would the granting of these visas create a firm precedent for granting further visas to Eastern European applicants, provided that the visits are made in a personal capacity. I should have thought that it would be easier to defend, both in Hong Kong and the UK, a policy of refusing visas to the vast majority of Eastern European applicants for Hong Kong visas if some Eastern European citizens were seen to be admitted when the case in favour was demonstrably strong.

3. In terms of the Government's policy towards Eastern Europe, there are good political grounds for asking the Governor to reconsider the refusal of these applications. One of the objectives of British policy towards Eastern Europe is to encourage Governments in the region to "recognise and respect the freedom of the individual to profess and practise, alone or in community with others, religion or belief, acting in accordance with the dictates of his own conscience" (Principle VII of the CSCE Final Act). It can surely be argued and I think would be so argued by critics of any decision to exclude the Bishop of Gdansk from Hong Kong that his presence at the Congress is an aspect of his religious practice. If representatives of the Catholic Church are not permitted to carry out their functions in territory administered by the British Government, our commitment to the CSCE Final Act might be called into question, and our standing to press for respect for freedom of religion and other human rights in Eastern Europe would thereby be undermined. In short, we could be made to look ridiculous. I do not think that Ministers would welcome this.

www

4.

I hope therefore that your Department can agree to ask the Governor to grant these two visas, provided that the two individuals travel in their personal capacity.

24 November 1977

PUSD

CC:

MVD

WED

FED

кви боб

K B A Scott

Eastern European and Soviet Department

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