3. LIU SAID THAT THE ACTION BEING TAKEN BY THE HONG KONG IMM- GRATION OFFICIALS WAS DISCRIMINATORY AGAINST CHINESE CITIZENS AND THAT THIS 'INHUMAN TREATMENT HAD AROUSED STRONG DISSATIS- FACTION' IN ADDITION THAT THE ESCORT AND DETENTION OF PRC
富
CITIZENS TRANSITING HONG KONG WAS AN UNFRIENDLY ACTION AT VARIANCE WITH THE BASIC PRINCIPLE OF HUMAN RIGHTS''. HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT EXPECTED THE BRITISH AUTH- ORITIES TO INSTITUTE IMMEDIATE MEASURES TO RESOLVE THESE QUE- STIONS, AND SUBMITTED THE FOLLOWING DEMANDS:
(1) AN END TO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST CHINESE CITIZENS WHO MET ALL NECESSARY FORMALITIES IN TRANSITING HONG KONG FOR PRIVATE PURPOSES. FOR EXAMPLE THE SENDING UNDER ESCORT OF PRC CITIZENS FROM LOWU TO KAITAK AND VICE-VERSA SHOULD BE STOPPED ''IMM-
EDIATELY''.
(11) PRC CITIZENS WITH VISAS FOR THIRD COUNTRIES AND ADEQUATE MEANS OF SUPPORT TRADITIONAL TRANSIT FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED MI NUMUM STAY OF EG 49 HOURS WITH NO VISA REQUIREMENT. (111) PRC CITIZENS RESIDENT ABROAD RETURNING TO CHINA VIA HONG KONG AND HAVING VISAS OBTAINED AT A BRITISH CONSULAR SECTION SHOULD BE PERMITTED TO ENTER HONG KONG FOR TRANSIT PURPOSES. (IV) PRC CITIZENS LEAVING CHINA VIA HONG KONG FOR A THIRD COUNTRY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO RETURN TO CHINA VIA HONG KONG..
4. OWEN WAS GIVEN THE IMPRESSION THAT THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES HAD HOPED THAT THE PROBLEMS AT LOWU AND KAITAK WOULD RESOLVE THEMSELVES, BUT THAT THE REVERSE HAS HAPPENED AND THEY COULD NO LONGER IGNORE THE COMPLAINTS MADE BY PRC CITIZENS.
5. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE HONG KONG'S COMMENTS WITH A VIEW TO DECIDING WHAT CAN BE DONE TO MEET THESE DEMANDS. WE SEE THE NEED TO ENSURE THAT TRANSIT IS NOT ABUSED BY POTENTIAL IMMIGR AN- TS AND TO INSIST ON DIRECT TRANSIT IN CASES OF DOUBT. BUT IT DOES SOUND AS IF THE RULES HAVE ON OCCASION BEEN APPLIED WITH SOME HARSHNESS. SO FAR AS (1) AND (11) ARE CONCERNED IT MAY BE A MATTER OF DECIDING MORE CLEARLY WHAT CONSTITUTE THE NECESSARY PROOFS OF INTENTION TO TRAVEL BEYOND HONG KONG, AND ENSURING THAT THESE ARE PROPERLY KNOWN. (111) AND (IV) APPEAR AT FIRST
SIGHT FAIR POINTS.
6. LIU ALSO RAISED THE PROBLEM OF OVERSEAS CHINESE (PRC PASSPORT HOLDERS) WHO TRAVEL WITH CHINA TRAVEL SERVICE ORGANISED GROUPS WITHIN CHINA. HE EXPLAINED THAT MOST OF THESE GROUPS LEAVE CHINA VIA HONG KONG, BUT THAT WHEREAS FOREIGN MEMBERS
OF THE GROUP ARE ALLOWED TRANSIT VISAS BY OUR CONSULAR SECTION UNDER THE AGREEMENT EXISTING WITH HONG KONG PRC PASSPORT HOLDERS ARE TOLD TO APPLY AT LOWU. LIU SAID THAT THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES CONSIDER THIS A DISCRIMINATORY ACTION. AS AN EXCEPTION WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT WE SHOULD IN FUTURE WE SHOULD HAVE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE TRANSIT VISAS FOR PRC CITIZENS TRAVELLING IN CHINA TRAVEL SERVICE CRGANISED GROUPS.
2 CONFIDENTIAL
/7.WHEN OWEN
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