TNAG-1097-FCO40-1347-Chinese-visa-office-in-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 106

37

PP HONG KONG

GRS 329

SECRET

FM FCO 051700Z JUNE 61

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 505 OF 3 JUNE

SECRET

INFO PRIORITY PEKING.

YOUR TELIO 540: CHINESE VISA OFFICE

136

ник 37911

RECENED IN $19DRY-NO.

51

....

5 JUN 1981

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

من

PSMSTRY Action Taken

Pas 516

38

34

See (42

1. WHILE UNDERSTANDING THE ARGUMENTS IN PEKING TELNO 366, WE

HAVE CONCLUDED THAT WE SHOULD NOT DELAY THIS ANY LONGER. THE

CHINESE CLEARLY CONSIDER THIS TO BE IMPORTANT AND HAVE MENTIONED

IT AGAIN RECENTLY PEKING TELNO 391. WE CAN SEEK NO APPROPRI-

ATE QUID PRO QUO. WE MUST END THIS IRRITANT IN OUR RELATIONS

WITH THE CHINESE. WE AGREE THAT THE CONCESSION OVER

-

LEGISLATING CAN BE MADE, GIVEN THAT WE HAVE

ALREADY ACCEPTED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE VISA OFFICE AND

CONCEDED MOST OF THE PRIVILEGES INVOLVED. BUT IT WOULD OF

COURSE BE ESSENTIAL FOR THE CHINESE TO ENDORSE THE TERMS OF THE MOJ.

2.

3.

-

PARA 3 OF TUR.

(37)

PLEASE NON THEREFORE CONSULT EXCO

CHIEF CLERK WILL SEE KE HUA TONIGHT. IF HE RAISES THIS

ISSUE, CHIEF CLERK WILL SAY THAT HE EXPECTS A REPLY WILL BE

GIVEN SOON.

4.

LEGAL ADVISERS HAVE THE FOLLOWING COMMENT ON DRAFT BILL

ATTACHED TO WILSON'S LETTER OF 4 MAY: зі

B)

(31)

A) IF LOCALLY ENGAGED STAFF ARE NOT TO ENJOY PRIVILEGES AND

IMMUNITIES UNDER BILL, THEY SHOULD BE SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDED.

'OFFICERS', 'EMPLOYEES' AND, IF IT IS NECESSARY TO HAVE SUCH A CATEGORY, 'SERVICE STAFF' SHOULD BE DEFINED IN THE BILL.

IN SECTION 3 'FORMING PART OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD' SHOULD BE

ADDED AFTER 'MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILIES'.

C)

D) SINCE CHINESE HAVE ASKED THAT COURIER SERVICE BE EXEMPT FROM

SEARCH, THEY WILL PROBABLY REQUIRE THAT SECTION 7 SHOULD

ACCORD COURIER INVIOLABILITY (AS IN ARTICLE 35(5) OF THE

CONSULAR REGULATIONS CONVENTION.

E)

SECTION 12 GIVES WIDER TAX EXEMPTION THAN ASKED FOR BUT

1

SECRET

43

57