TNAG-1097-FCO40-1347-Chinese-visa-office-in-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 65

CONFIDENTIAL

GR 560

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG Ø60936Z AUG 81

TO PRIORITY F C O

HKK 349/1

61

AMERSTON

MED SVCY NO. 51

TOP COY 1981

RESISTAY otion Takei

TELEGRAM NUMBER 724 OF 6 AUGUST

INFO PRIORITY PEKING

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PEKING TEL NOS 517 AND 523 : CHINESE VISA OFFICE

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Pas 2718

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I AGREE THAT THE LATEST CHINESE PROPOSAL IS A SIGNIFICANT SHIFT IN THEIR POSITION AND I WOULD LIKE TO USE IT TO GET THE ISSUE RESOLVED. BUT I AM CONCERNED NOT TO FORMALISE AN AGREEMENT WHICH IMPLIES THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO MEETING THE OUTSTANDING CHINESE DEMANDS. THESE CAN ONLY BE DEALT WITH BY LEGISLATION AND THE NEED FOR THAT MAY BE HARDER RATHER THAN EASIER TO EXPLAIN PUBLICLY ONCE THE OFFICE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. WE MAY ULTIMATELY HAVE TO LEGISLATE. BUT, AT THIS STAGE, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD KEEP OUR OPTIONS OPEN AND NOT RISK THE ADDED IRRITANT OF ACCUSATIONS OF BAD FAITH IF WE DO NOT RESOLVE THE OUTSTANDING

ISSUES AS OR WHEN THE CHINESE WANT.

2. AS SEEN FROM HERE THE BEST COURSE WOULD BE TO RESPOND TO THE

CHINESE PROPOSAL BY SAYING THAT WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ANXIOUS TO

SEE THE VISA OFFICE ESTABLISHED SOON IN ORDER TO FACILITATE

TRAVEL. WE HAVE LOOKED FOR SOLUTIONS TO ANY PRACTICAL PROBLEMS WHICH HAVE ARISEN. IN THIS SPIRIT WE AGREE THAT THE OFFICE SHOULD

START FUNCTIONING ON THE BASIS OF A MEMORANDUM ON THE LINES

SUGGESTED. TO MAKE THE POSITION OF BOTH SIDES CLEAR WE PROPOSE

THE FOLLOWING MINOR ALTERATIONS TO THEIR SINGLE MEMORANDUM:

(1) ADD SECTION 111 OF THEIR ALTERNATIVE DRAFT (BRITISH RESERVATIONS) IN PLACE OF THE EXISTING FIRST SENTENCE OF SECTION 111. (THE DATE OF THE BRITISH MEMORANDUM NEEDS TO BE ADDED.),

(11) REWORD THE FINAL PARAGRAPH OF SECTION III TO READ: 'AFTER THE OFFICE IS SET UP THE CHINESE SIDE HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR WISH TO

CONTINUE TALKS ON THE ABOVE-MENTIONED MATTERS TO HAVE THEM

SETTLED APPROPRIATELY. THE BRITISH SIDE HAVE SAID THAT THEY ARE

WILLING TO DISCUSS ANY PRACTICAL PROBLEMS AFFECTING THE FUNCTIONING

OF THE VISA OFFICE IN ORDER TO FIND SUITABLE SOLUTIONS.''

"

•

(411) IN 111(1) SECOND SENTENCE DELETE ''SHALL IN 111(111) FIRST

AND SECOND SENTENCES SUBSTITUTE ''SHOULD'' FOR ''SHALL (THESE CHANGES FIT THE CHINESE TEXT.)

•

3. IN ADDITION I SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING POINTS SHOULD BE MADE ORALLY ALTHOUGH I SEE NO OBJECTION TO HAVING THEM (EXCEPT (111)) IN THE MEMORANDUM IF YOU AND THE EMBASSY THINK THIS BEST AND

ACCEPTABLE TO THE CHINESE:

reckoi

V

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CONFIDENTIAL

(I) CONFIRM THAT