TNAG-1097-FCO40-1347-Chinese-visa-office-in-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 17

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CONFIDENTIAL # #

For information (1, 12.81)

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XCCI (81)59 Copy No

NOTE FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCILK

CHINESE VISA OFFICE IN HONG KONG

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HE informed the Council on 17th November that the Chinese

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Visa Office would open for business from 25th November. Members will recall from the Information Note XCCI (81)45 of 29th September that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs suggested, when the agreed memorandum was signed, that the Visa Office might issue passports in exceptional cases..

2

The Head of the Visa Office, in his initial call on the

Political Adviser, followed this up. He asked that the Visa Office be allowed to issue passports to certain Chinese passport holders whose passports were lost, full or had expired. The categories mentioned were:

China-based staff serving in Hong Kong;

(a)

(b)

Chinese official passport holders in transit;

(c)

overseas Chinese transitting Hong Kong.

The Political Adviser undertook to consider the request, but against the background that the agreement reached in Peking was that the Visa Office would only issue visas,

3 The FCO and Peking have been consulted. They agree that it would set a bad precedent to allow a significant derogation from the terms of the agreement at the outset, and that blanket authority along the lines requested should not be conceded. But they are also concerned to avoid unnecessary friction on a matter in which the Chinese Foreign Minister has taken a personal interest. They would like us to show some flexibility. We therefore propose to allow the Visa Office to issue passports in exceptional cases, but only after consultation with the Director of Immigration on each occasion. The Director of Immigration would give his agreement sparingly.

4

The Political Adviser will tell the Director of the Visa Office that any changes to the functions of the Office as set out in the agreed memorandum must be raised with the Embassy. He will also inform the NCNA of this response. If the Ministry of Foreign Affairs then raise the matter in Peking the Embassy will reply initially that the terms of the agreement must be observed by both sides and that the functions of the Visa Office do not include the issuing of passports. If, as is likely, the MFA press the point, the Embassy will make the limited concession outlined in paragraph 3 above.

G.S. 166

1st December 1981 (SCR 1/2071

CIL CHAMBER

CONFIDENTIALUL