TNAG-1097-FCO40-1347-Chinese-visa-office-in-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 172

тор сору.

CONFIDENTIAL

GRS 250

CONFIDENTIAL

DESKBY F C O 20090ØZ

DESKBY PEKING 200830Z

FM HONG KONG 200750Z MAR 81

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 310 OF 20 MAR

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

MIPT

10

See

RECETTE

нкк 34911

QEY NO. 51

24 MAR 1981

DESK OFICI

INDEX

PA

RE: YURY Action Takeh Yaker

ка

VISA OFFICE

1. WHILE I AGREE THAT AN ATEMPT SHOULD BE MADE TO DISPOSE

OF THIS MATTER BEFORE THE S OF S'S VISIT ALONG THE LINES

OF MIPT, I PRESUME HE WILL NEED A DEFENSIVE BRIEF.

2. I SUGGEST HE TAKES A ROBUST LINE THAT HE IS NOT PREPARED

TO DISCUSS SUCH MINOR DETAILS. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAVE

GONE AS FAR AS THEY CAN TO PROVIDE FOR THE PRACTICAL

REQUIREMENTS OF A VISA OFFICE IN THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF IT NOT BEING PART OF A CONSULAR OR DIPLOMATIC MISSION OR ITS

EQUIVALENT. IF THE CPG PREOCCUPATION WITH DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGE MEANS THAT WHAT THEY REALLY WANT IS NOT A VISA OFFICE

BUT A FULLY FLEDGED DIPLOMATIC MISSION, WE WOULD NOT EXCLUDE THIS POSSIBILITY. HOWEVER IT WOULD BE A COMPLETELY

NEW AND, IN THE EYES OF PEOPLE IN HONG KONG, VERY SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT. AS SUCH IT WOULD RAISE LARGE QUESTIONS BOTH

OF PRACTICE AND OF PRESENTATION. NO DOUBT ANSWERS TO THESE COULD BE FOUND, BUT THEY WOULD REQUIRE VERY CAREFUL

DISCUSSION AND EVENTUAL DEFINITION BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES.

HOWEVER IF ON REFLECTION THE CHINESE SIMPLY

WANT AN OFFICE THAT WOULD ISSUE VISAS AND NOTHING ELSE, HE DOES

NOT SEE WHY THE PROPOSALS MADE BY HMG CANNOT BE ACCEPTED.

See (31

MACLEHOSE

LIMITED

HK & GD

FED

P & CD

LEGAL ADVS

SIR E YOUDE

MR DONALD

[ADVANCED AS REQUESTED]

CONFIDENTIAL

@