197
GRS 350
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 01092ØZ DECEMBER 81
TO PRIORITY F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1074 OF 01 DECEMBER
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
HIR 349/1
RECEIVED HE ALGUS
INDLA
76
- 2 DEC1VS1
-ken
12: Pay 3/12
ני
98
YOUR TELNO 900 AND PEKING TELNO 713: CHINESE VISA OFFICE
1. I CONSULTED EXCO BECAUSE OF THIER PREVIOUS STRANGE VIEWS. WHILE NOTING THE POINT ABOUT THE LORD PRIVY SEAL'S VISIT TO PEKING,
UNOFFICIALS WERE MISTRUSTFUL OF CHINESE MOTIVES IN SEEKING
AUTHORITY FOR THE VISA OFFICE TO ISSUE PASSPORTS AND WERE
OPPOSED TO ANY CONCESSION AT THIS STAGE. THEY DID NOT
ACCEPT THAT SERIOUS INCONVENIENCE WOULD BE CAUSED IF THE
PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ISSUING AND REPLACING CHINESE
PASSPORTS WERE CONTINUED.
2. IN THE LIGHT OF THIS REACTION, I HOPE YOU CAN AGREE THAT:
A THE PA SHOULD SPEAK TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE VISA OFFICE
AND NCNA AS PROPOSED IN PARA 5 OF MY TELNO 1051.
See/99)
95
(B) IF THE MATTER IS RAISED BY THE MFA, THE EMBASSY SHOULD CONFINE THEMSELVES TO THE LINE IN PARA 6 OF MY T U R.
95
3. IF THE MFA PRESS HARD, AND THE ISSUE LOOKS LIKE
BECOMING AN IRRITANT IN OUR RELATIONS WE SHOULD NEED TO THINK AGAIN. BUT I SHOULD NOT WISH TO GO BACK TO EXCO WITHOUT CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT THE CHINESE ATTACHED REAL
IMPORTANCE TO THE QUESTION, AND UNLES YOU ADVISED THAT IT WAS REASONABLE AND IN HONG KONG'S INTEREST TO COMPROMISE.
4. NEITHER THE DIRECTOR OF THE VISA OFFICE NOR THE NCNA HAVE REVERTED TO THE QUESTION SINCE IT WAS FIRST RAISED WITH THE PA EARLY LAST MONTH. THIS SUGGESTS THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN A TRY-ON.
MACLEHOSE
LIMITED
HROGD
FED
MVD
MR DONALD
MR ADAM
CONFIDENTI
CA A J
THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT
ADVANCED
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.