TNAG-0910-FCO40-1120-Policy-on-visas-and-entry-certificates-in-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 47

43

DENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

. FM PEKING #373227 AUG 79

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 604 OF 3 AUGUST 79

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

DESKBY FCO 0398962

HKK345/2

PW2/8

YOUR TELMO 616 TO HONG KONG AND HONG KONG TELNO 1098

CHINESE VISA OFFICE IN HONG KONG

1. 1 AGREE WITH PARA 1 OF THE GOVERNOR'S TUR. THE CHINESE MAY SEE THIS OFFICE AS A STEP ON THE ROAD TO OFFICIAL REPRESENT- ATION. BUT WE DO NOT SEE HOW THEY WILL GET FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD SO LONG AS THE FUNCTIONS OF THE OFFICE AND THE SIZE OF ITS ESTABLISHMENT ARE TIED TO THE VISA ISSUING ROLE IMPLIED

BY ITS TITLE,

45

see Ho

2. PARA 2(A) OF YOUR TUR: WE SEE ADVANTAGE IN THE SUBORDINATION OF THE OFFICE TO THE MFA RATHER THAN TO THE PROVINCIAL AUTHORITIES. IT GIVES GREATER CREDENCE TO THE SEPARATENESS

OF HONG KONG FROM GUANGDONG PROVINCE.

3. YOUR PARA 2(C):

IT IS MORE FOR HONG KONG TO JUDGE, BUT THE SHORTER TITLE IN PARA 1(1) OF HONG KONG TELNO 1083 SOUNDS AT LEAST AS GOOD. THE MORE COMPLICATED THE TITLE THE MORE IT MAY IMPLY TO OBSERVERS THAT THERE HAS BEEN A BATTLE OVER THE STATUS OF THE OFFICE. FOR THOSE WITH A LONG MEMORY I WOULD RECALL THE ARGUMENTS OVER THE TITLE OF OUR FORMER REPRESENTATION IN SHANGHAI, THE INCLUCION OF CONSULAR DEPARTMENT DOES NOT SEEM TO ADD ANYTHING FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW, WHILE THE LENGTH OF THE TITLE PROPOSED IN YOUR TUR WILL SIMPLY ENCOURAGE ITS UNDESIRABLE ABBREVIATION.

GEORGE

FILAS

NKY G

MO CORFAGLI

1447

+7

38

(1980) file

Copies To:

Hong Kong GOVT OFFICE

HONG

CONFIDENTIAL