TNAG-0907-FCO40-1117-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 72

HKK 3411

RECEIVED A PESARY NO. 51 231079

чно

RY

HOFO Ø18/22

PP PEKING

PP SANAA

GRS 270

RESTRICTED

FM HONG KONG 2209ØØZ NOV 79

TO PRIORITY PEKING

TELEGRAM NUMBER 216 OF 22 NOVEMBER

INFO PRIORITY SANAA

FROM DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION.

No

23/11

REPETITION ONLY

HKG

22.11

"The Williamson J 22

22/11

1. YOU MAY RECEIVE A COMPLAINT FROM THE EMBASSY OF THE YEMEN ARAB REPUBLIC THAT ONE OF THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE ATTACHES (A TYPIST) WAS REFUSED ENTRY TO HONG KONG AND SENT BACK TO CANTON ON THE SAME AIRCRAFT ON 14 NOVEMBER, ON THE GROUNDS THAT HIS PASSPORT WAS NOT VALID FOR HONG KONG.

2. THE PERSON CONCERNED IS

ISSUED IN SANAA ON 16 AUGUST 1979.

3. THE ACTION TAKEN BY THE IMMIGRATION OFFICER WAS COMPLETELY WRONG AND STEMMED PARTLY FROM CONFUSION OVER THE VALIDITY OF VARIOUS TYPES OF YEMENI TRAVEL DOCUMENTS (PARTICULARLY THOSE ISSUED BY THE FORMER ROYALIST AUTHORITIES) AND PARTLY FROM A FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH STANDING ORDERS ON REFUSED LANDING PROCEDURES. WE SHALL BE TAKING APPROPRIATE DISCIPLINARY ACTION.

4.

RETURNED TO HONG KONG ON THE THROUGH TRAIN FROM CANTON ON 15 NOVEMBER WHEN HE WAS ADMITTED NORMALLY. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE PURPOSE OF HIS VISIT WAS TO PURCHASE MEDICINE ON BEHALF OF HIS AMBASSADOR. WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CONTACT

AND BELIEVE HE MAY BY NOW HAVE RETURNED TO PEKING.

5. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD CONVEY OUR SINCERE APOLOGIES

TO

IN ANY WAY YOU DEEM APPROPRIATE. IF ASKED YOU

MAY SAY THAT WE WILL REIMBURSE THE ADDITIONAL TRAVELLING

AND ACCOMMODATION EXPENSES INCURRED.

6. WE ARE EXPLAINING TO CHINA TRAVEL SERVICE WHAT WENT WRONG.

CATER

NNNN