TNAG-0910-FCO40-1120-Policy-on-visas-and-entry-certificates-in-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 30

CODE 18-77

Note for the File

-Referen

HKK 345 2

RECEIVED IN REGKTAK NO. 51

PA (5:36

HK Youth Orchestras: Visas to visit France: 3.1 Aug - 3 September

concert on

DESK OFFNER

1. Telephone call from Denis Bray "Friday 24thing gottfining de problem.i.e. orchestra's intention to travel kr's at end of tow for one

Saturday I are on Sunday. But 24 members of the group, travelling on Certificates of Identity + Declarations of Identity, refused visas by Mme Marron at French Consulate General (584-9628).

2. 28 August

August I sought to discover in the FCO some the who would be prepared to speak to Mme Marion. In vain. WED unaware, even, of French Consulate General's address.

;

3. I spoke to Cultural Attaché M Habin at French Embassy who agreed to speak to Mme Mation.

4.

I spoke to Hme Marron who explained:

a). her owes would not allow her to issue visas to people travelling

such documents (i.e. Diaci).

b). She needed authority from Paris to make any exception. This she was

seeking

C). she could tell, from certain marks on de documents, that key had

been seen by de French Consul-General in Paris Hong Kong. Why then did he not issue de visas? In making ther plans, the orchestras should have set aside sufficient time for this aspect.

the orcheston's organiser

5. On 29 August Miss Deborah Lusty (?)/(continued to ring the office for Progress reports. Little we could say, utter dan we understood the Marron to be expecting a reply from Paris. At end of day, learnt that James Dunn MP had taken up the case, and had himself, with Miss Leuty, been to see Mme Marrons. 6. An 30 August a.m., I spoke to Mis Parfitt (Embassy Paris) to see whether see could chivy things along from her and. She agreed to speak to UNESCO (who had was intended de informal invitation to de orchestres) I to someone in de Ministry of. de Interior This is of the did, but to

of the did but to no avail. 7. Mme Marton (who, drough Mness, had taken the morning off) told me Soon after lundi on 30 August that Paris had rejected de vija

applications

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