C
GRS 315
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 25173OZ FEB 81
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
CONFIDENTIAL
TELEGRAM NUMBER 73 OF 25 FEBRUARY
HKK 344/1
36.51
Sa pagan g
OP2EFFB 24.
INDEX
ISTRY
Action Takén
50
HKR 349/3 1910
HKK 0401133
1981
INFO HONG KONG
3
мо
YOUR TELNO 109 AND HONG KONG TELNO 197: HONG KONG
£27.2
CHINESE VI
Pas 213
"OFFICE IN
2.
HIFIC 349/3 (55) 1980
NO FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS SINCE MY TELNO 1134 AND EXCHANGE OF
LETTERS WITH WILSON.
SUGGEST HEAD OF CHANCERY SPEAKS AS FOLLOWS: A) WELCOME THE PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR ISSUING VISAS WHICH
THE OPENING OF THE VISA OFFICE WOULD PROVIDE:
B) WE HAVE OFFERED EVERYTHING NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT VISA OFFICE COULD CARRY OUT PRACTICAL FUNCTIONS EFFICIENTLY (1.E. THOSE PRIVILEGES LISTED IN PARA 2 OF MY TUR AND EMBODIED IN THE DRAFT MEMORANDUM HANDED TO THE COUNSELLOR
OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY BY HEAD OF HKGD ON 18 DECEMBER): HKK 349/3
C) NCNA OFFICE HAS OPERATED UNHINDERED WITHOUT THE EXTRA
IMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN REQUESTED FOR THE VISA OFFICE:
D) FOLLOWING CHINESE REQUESTS CANNOT BE MET WITHOUT LEGISLATION IN HONG KONG: (1) EXEMPTION OF VISA OFFICE FROM PROPERTY TAX: (11) PERSONAL INVIOLABILITY AND IMMUNITY FOR STAFF AND DEPENDENTS: AND (111) EXEMPTION OF PERSONAL EFFECTS
FROM LUGGAGE SEARCH AND PAYMENT OF CUSTOMS DUTIES:
E) LEGISLATION INAPPROPRIATE AS WOULD IMPLY GREATER STATUS AND
WIDER FUNCTION THAN ORIGINALLY AGREED:
F) SHOULD PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES ARISE ON IMMUNITIES, HONG KONG
AUTHORITIES WOULD BE READY TO DISCUSS ON A CASE BY CASE
BASIS:
G) HMG'S POSITION REMAINS AS MADE CLEAR TO MR LIANG GENG BY
HEAD OF HONG KONG AND GENERAL DEPARTMENT ON 18 DECEMBER 1980. 3. IN ADDITION TO WITHDRAWING THE DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR DESIGNATE (HONG KONG TELNO 1593 OF 3 DECEMBER) PEKING HAVE SINCE SUMMONED HOME ALL OF THE CHINA-BASED STAFF OF THE VISA OFFICE (HONG KONG TELNO 149). IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU COULD LEAVE THE MFA IN NO DOUBT THAT HONG KONG AND WE ARE PREPARED TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN WITHIN EXISTING LEGISLATION TO ACCOMMODATE THEM OVER THE VISA OFFICE BUT THAT THE PRESENT SITUATION IS NOT OF
OUR MAKING.
CARRINGTON
LIMITED HK&GD FED
JTJ
PCD
LEGAL ADVISERS
SIR E YOUDE
MR DONALD
CONFIDENTIAL
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