TNAG-1097-FCO40-1347-Chinese-visa-office-in-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 40

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DESK OFFICER

INDEX

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Antson Lake,

868.1817

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 160518Z SEP 81

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 838 OF 16 SEPTEMBER

AND IMMEDIATE PEKING

INFO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON

G9

YOUR TELNO 409 TO PEKING: CHINESE VISA OFFICE.

See 183

GRATEFUL IF, WHEN EXCHANGING MEMORANDA, PEKING WOULD DISCOVER WHAT CHINESE INTENTIONS ARE ABOUT THE TIMING OF OPENING THE OFFICE AND ANY

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT.

2. I HOPE THAT ANY ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE LOW KEY AND MAKE THE POINT

THAT THE VISA OFFICE IS NEEDED TO IMPROVE PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR TRAVEL BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINA.

3. WHEN WE KNOW CHINESE INTENTIONS ON TIMING WE WILL PREPARE

BACKGROUND BRIEFING TO ANSWER ANY PRESS QUERIES. WE WILL CONSULT YOU ON THE CONTENT. I ALSO WISH TO INFORM EXCO IN ADVANCE OF ANY PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT. SINCE THE NEXT MEETING WILL NOT BE UNTIL 29 SEPTEMBER IT WOULD BE CONVENIENT IF THERE WERE NO ANNOUNCEMENT

BEFORE THEN. I SHOULD NOT HAVE THOUGHT THAT ANY ANNOUNCEMENT

IS REQUIRED UNTIL JUST BEFORE THE OFFICE OPENS FOR BUSINESS.

MACLEHOSE

THIS TELEGRAM

LIMITED

HK&GD

FED

MR DONALD

WAS NOT

ADVANCED

COPIES TO:-

HK GO LONDON

CONFIDENTIAL