TNAG-1097-FCO40-1347-Chinese-visa-office-in-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 146

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GR 350

CONFIDENTIAL

FM PEKING 020945Z APR

CONFIDENTIAL

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 24 OF 2 APR 81.

INFO IMMEDIATE FCO.

FOR GOVERNOR FROM YOUDE.

CHINESE VISA OFFICE IN HONG KONG.

#

акк зна

1

A

RECEIVED AT REGISTRY NO. 5

08 APR

1. AS ANTICIPATED THIS WAS RAISED AT SECOND SEISTON FREK TALKS:9 THIS MORNING. HUANG HUA EMPHASISED THAT THE ONLY FUNCTION OFPA THE OFFICE WOULD BE TO ISSUE VISAS IT WOULD HAVE NO OTHER 8.4. RESPONSIBILITY. SONG ZHIGUANG SAID THAT AS THEIXISA ÖFFISE WOULD BE AN AGENCY OF THE FOREIGN MINISTRY IT WOULD BE AN OFFICIAL

OFFICE AND SHOULD HAVE THE APPROPRIATE PRIVILEGES. AGREEMENT HAD BEEN REACHED ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE OFFICE MORE THAN A YEAR AGO BUT AS THE QUESTION OF PRIVILEGES HAD NOT YET BEEN SOLVED THE OFFICE COULD NOT FUNCTION, HE THEN OUTLINED THE OUTSTANDING REQUESTS.

2. AT LORD CARRINGTON'S REQUEST I EXPLAINED YOUR POSITION

REISTRY

Action Taken

ON THE LINES OF THE BRIEF BUT HUANG HUA WAS CLEARLY NOT CONVINCED. HUANG HUA REFERRED TO THE HISTORY OF CHINESE REPRESENTATIVES IN HONG KONG AND EMPHASISED THAT THE PRESENT PROPOSAL` WAS IN NO WAY CONNECTED. SPEAKING PRIVATELY AFTER THE MEETING, HE STRESSED THE NEED TO GET THE PROBLEM SOLVED.

3. I DO NOT THINK THE CHINESE ARE TRYING TO GET AN OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE THROUGH THE BACK DOOR. BUT THEY SEEM TO TAKE THE VIEW THAT THEY WOULD LOSE FACE LOCALLY IF THEY WERE TO ESTABLISH AN OFFICIAL OFFICE ON A SECOND CLASS BASIS.

IN MY VIEW THEY WILL NOT SETTLE FOR WHAT YOU ARE NOW OFFERING.

4. WOULD YOU BE READY TO CONSIDER FURTHER THOUGHT TO THE IDEA WHICH I PUT TO YOU IN HONG KONG, I.E. SIMPLY ADDING THE VISA OFFICE TO THE LIST OF BODIES ENJOYING DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES UNDER THE APPROPRIATE ORDANANCE. THIS SEEMS TO ME MUCH THE SIMPLEST SOLUTION. WOULD YOU HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO MY SUGGESTING IT TO THE CHINESE, AT LEAST AS A BASIS FOR DISCUSSION?

5.

GRATEFUL FOR REPLY BEFORE WE LEAVE PEKING.

CRADOCK

LIMITED

HK vQD FED PCD

MVD

LEGAL ADV: MIL DONALD

CONFIDENTIAL

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