TNAG-1202-FCO40-1504-Policy-on-visas-and-entry-certificates-in-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 115

HKK 345/2

TO PRIORITY F C O

GR 300

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 098644Z FEB 82

TELEGRAM NUMBER 105 OF 9 FEBRUARY

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON

THESK

19

iami Afi seer

Af

MY TELNO 89 MS CHRISTINE VERTUCCI

MS VERTUCCI'S OBJECTION HAS BEEN CONSIDERED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL WHO HAS CONFIRMED THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION'S DECISION. MS VERTUCCI IS BEING INFORMED IN WRITING TODAY. A COPY OF THE LETTER IS IN M.I.F.T. A COPY OF THE EXCO PAPER HAS BEEN FORWARDED

TO YOU IN BAG A.7.

2. WE ARE NOT GIVING PUBLICITY TO THIS DECISION BUT WE PROPOSE TO RESPOND TO ANY PRESS ENQUIRIES BY STATING THAT THE OBJECTION HAS BEEN CONSIDERED AND THAT THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAS CONFIRMED THE DIRECTOR'S DECISION. WE SHALL ADD THAT MS VERTUCCI HAS BEEN INFORMED. EXCO CONFIRMED OUR ADVICE THAT THEREAFTER WE MUST HOLD THIS LINE WITHOUT FURTHER COMMENT. WE ARE PREPARING SOME QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON PROCEDURAL ASPECTS AND WILL FORWARD THEM TO YOU.

3. IT IS THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION'S INTENTION TO CALL MS VERTUCCI FOR AN INTERVIEW ON THE 11TH FEBRUARY TO CONFIRM THAT SHE HAS RECEIVED THE LETTER AND ENQUIRE WHAT ARRANGEMENTS SHE HAS MADE ABOUT LEAVING. DEPENDING ON HER RESPONSE AND BEARING IN MIND THAT SHE HAS AUTHORITY TO REMAIN UNTIL 19TH FEBRUARY WE MAY BE PREPARED TO GRANT HER AN EXTENSION OF UP TO TWO WEEKS. IT REMAINS OUR POLICY TO GET

HER TO LEAVE VOLUNTARILY.

4. IF SHE OVERSTAYS THEN SHE WOULD BE ASKED TO REPORT TO THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT. IF SHE DOES SO SHE MAY WELL BE DETAINED FOLLOWING THE INTERVIEW. IF SHE DOES NOT TURN UP WE SHALL HAVE TO CONSIDER HOW SHE SHOULD BE ARRESTED. THEREAFTER WE SHALL FOLLOW THE PROCEDURE IN PARAGRAPH 3 OF TUR.

5. THERE HAS BEEN VIRTUALLY NO COMMENT IN THE CHINESE PRESS AND LITTLE FURTHER COMMENT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE MEDIA. WE ASSUME THAT

SHE AND HER SUPPORTERS WILL SEEK AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUBLICISE THE

REJECTION OF HER OBJECTION BOTH LOCALLY AND OVERSEAS.

6. WE HAVE BRIEFED THE UNITED STATES CONSULATE GENERAL ON THE CASE

AND ARE ADVISING THEM OF EXCO'S DECISION.

7. WE SHALL KEEP YOU INFORMED.

99

MACLEHOSE

LIMITED

PUSD

HIS&D

PSIPS

NEWS MUD SEAD

PS/MR LUCE

PS|PUS MRDONALD MRURE

CONFIDENTIAL

COPIES TO:

HONG KONG GOUT OFFICE,

LONDON

THIS TELEGRAM

WAS NOT

ADVANCED

26