TNAG-1095-FCO40-1345-Visas-for-Chinese-nationals-visiting-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 93

CONFIDENTIAL

HKK 345/1 (85

4. THE SECOND POINT CONCERNED WHAT HUANG DESCRIBED AS THE

HONG KONG IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES 'DISCRIMINATION'' AGAINST

CHINESE TRAVELLERS (SEE PEKING TELNO 567 TO FCO OF 14 OCTOBER 1980). HUANG HUA COMPLAINED THAT PRC CITIZENS UNLIKE

OTHER NATIONALS WERE SOMETIMES CLOSELY INTERROGATED FOR

SEVERAL HOURS BY IMMIGRATION OFFICERS, AND DETAINED IN

DETENTION CENTRES. THIS PRACTICE CAUSED CHINESE NATIONALS

MUCH INCONVENIENCE AND ALSO HURT NATIONAL FEELINGS. THEY

WERE SOMETIMES ALSO SUBJECTED TO ''INSULTING BEHAVIOUR” ''

AND WERE NOT ALLOWED TO MAKE CONTACTS WITH THEIR FRIENDS

AND RELATIVES IN HONG KONG. HUANG ASKED THAT THIS SHOULD

CEASE.

5.

THIRDLY, HUANG HUA REFERRED TO THE REQUIREMENT FOR

CHINESE PRIVATE CITIZENS WISHING TO TRANSIT HONG KONG TO

APPLY FOR VISAS AT LO WU (PEKING TELNO 14 TO YOU). HUANG

HUA EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE BRITISH EMBASSY COULD EITHER

HANDLE SUCH APPLICATIONS ITSELF IN FUTURE OR ARRANGE FOR THE

CHINA TRAVEL SERVICE TO PROCESS THEM.

6. LORD CARRINGTON SAID THAT HE WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THESE

QUESTIONS, BUT WOULD CONSULT THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG ABOUT THEM

AT ONCE. HE WAS SURE THAT HONG KONG OFFICIALS DID NOT BEHAVE INSULTINGLY TOWARDS CHINESE CITIZENS. AS REGARDS THE POINT IN PARA 5, I SAID THAT THE MFA HAD RECENTLY BEEN TOLD THAT THIS WOULD PRESENT AN ALMOST IMPOSSIBLY HEAVY

ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN FOR THE MISSION.

7. LORD CARRINGTON WILL NEED TO GIVE HUANG HUA A

PROVISIONAL RESPONSE WHEN HE SEES HIM AT DINNER TOMORROW

3 APRIL. GRATEFUL FOR ADVICE ON WHAT HE SHOULD SAY BY THEN.

1980

CRADOCK

LIMITED

HK vGD

MVD

FED

SIR & YOUDE MIL ADAMS MIL DONALD

2 CONFIDENTIAL