TNAG-1095-FCO40-1345-Visas-for-Chinese-nationals-visiting-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 83

CODE 18-77

CONFIDENTIAL

Reference...

HICK 345/4

MAY 1981

(12

Mr Mortice

Mr

Williamson

CHINESE TRANSIT VISAS THROUGH HONG KONG

1.

I discussed this with Sir E Youde.

use

2.

Kong.

INDEX

Liction Taken

",་འབབ་་་

Jus. 116012/5

His views are:

the argument on a) Peking should not commit themselves too far on the

question of accommodation and staff. It might be embarrassing if the Chinese offered accommodation but the staff were not forthcoming. It is, of course, possible that Hong Kong Government personnel might be used but there could be complications in this.

b) We should query Hong Kong's reluctance to make use of the China Travel Service (CTS). Their argument that there would be no saving of time does not stand up. There would really be nothing lost in acknowledging in practice that CTS are virtually a government department. They are already used to obtain visas for people visiting China. It should be possible to get round any embarrassment over refusals by making quite clear that CTS would be simply safe-hand couriers for visa applications and passports and that neither we nor Hong Kong could undertake to enter into any discussion of reasons for refusals.

Please discuss with FED and MVD and draft a reply to Hong

This I could then discuss when I am in Hong Kong next week.

5 May 1981

سلسل

وسیع

R D Clift

ayne wich SiG. Youle.

1. Dummed wil

PEAT MUD who

дад

Draft telegram to Houkoy attadend

Svilarm

14

CONFIDENTIAL

5.5.8.