TNAG-1202-FCO40-1504-Policy-on-visas-and-entry-certificates-in-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 113

RR HONG KONG

GRS 228

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CONFIDENTIAL

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HKK 345/2

RSCENDED NANDO DAY 50. 5

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO 081630Z FEBRUARY 82

TO ROUTINE HONG KONG,

TELEGRAM NUMBER 77 OF 8 FEBRUARY

VISAS FOR HONG KONG : PHILHARMONICA HUNGARIA

DISK UTPOS

1. WE HAVE BEEN APPROACHED BY JASPER PARROTT OF HARRISON PARROTT

(IMPRESSARIOS) LTD ABOUT THE PARTICIPATION IN THE 1983 HONG KONG

ARTS FESTIVAL OF THE PHILHARMONICA HUNGARIA ORCHESTRA.

ACCORDING

TO PARROTT, THIS ORCHESTRA WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE LATE 1950'S AND

IS COMPOSED MOSTLY OF EMIGRE HUNGARIANS. ITS BASE IS NEAR DUSSEL-

DORF.

2. PARROTT CLAIMS THAT HE HAS BEEN NEGOTIATING WITH THE ARTS

FESTIVAL ORGANISERS OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS AND THAT DURING A

VISIT TO HONG KONG EARLIER THIS YEAR HE FINALISED THE TERMS,

PROGRAMME AND CONTRACT. HOWEVER, ON 5 FEBRUARY HE RECEIVED A

TELEX FROM THE FESTIVAL ORGANISERS TO THE EFFECT THAT THE IMMIG-

RATION AUTHORITIES HAD DECLINED TO GIVE CLEARANCE TO THE ORCHESTRA

TO ENTER HONG KONG.

3.

PARROTT IS NATURALLY VERY CONCERNED, PARTICULARLY AS HE HAS

BEEN ALLOWED TO GO SO FAR DOWN THE ROAD WITH THIS EXERCISE,

PRESUMABLY AT SOME EXPENSE. HE IS PREPARED TO FLY TO HONG KONG AT

ONCE IF IT WOULD HELP. HE ADMITS THAT MOST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE

ORCHESTRA STILL TECHNICALLY HAVE HUNGARIAN OR RUMANIAN NATIONALITY

BUT CLAIMS THAT ALL BUT ONE - WHOM HE COULD REPLACE HAVE WEST

GERMAN OR AUSTRIAN TRAVEL DOCUMENTS AND PERMISSION TO RE-ENTER

WEST GERMANY.

-

4. GRATEFUL FOR COMMENTS AND A LINE TO TAKE WITH PARROTT.

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CARRINGTON

MINIMAL

HK&GD

CRD EESD MVD

COPIES TO:- HKGO LONDON

1

CONFIDENTIAL