TNAG-1205-FCO40-1507-Policy-on-visas-and-entry-certificates-in-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 96

IO/PA

From.

531/6

Ref..................

Tel. No.

Date 4 March, 1982

MEMO

Mr Geger ра

To Atg. Commissioner, AC(HQ)

SAO (HQ)

113

PO, SLO HKK345/2

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dated

not what Los said

AF913

Following is a brief translation of a back page lead story published in the 4 March issue of Sing Tao Newspaper (European Edition) :-

The American lawyer Christine Vertucci who was refused renewal of her visa by the Hong Kong Immigration is currently petitioning the Foreign Secretary Lord Carrington in Britain.

Labour MP Robert Parry has made representation on behalf of Vertucci to the Foreign Minister Humphrey Atkins, demanding the reasons for refusal. A Press Conference was held on 2.3.82, inviting several Labour MPs to extend their support for her

cause.

The reply given by the Foreign Minister, as revealed by Robert Parry in the conference, was that as an ongoing agreement, the Foreign Office will not interfere on immigration matters

of Britain's colonies. Officials of the colonies have the right to withhold the reasons for refusing to extend the stay of visitors.

The applicant will normally be given a period to leave the territory which differs from deportation.

Vertucci made her case to members of the media by relating intensively her work in Hong Kong. In particular, she pointed out her extensive investigation into the exploitation of human rights, and corruption among the police officers posted at the border. This might have resulted in the Immigration Department's refusing to renew her work-visa. She believed that her work in Hong Kong had led to her name being kept in certain confidential files with the government, which marked her as a member of subversive groups. She declared that she had never violated any regulations nor incited any action against the law and order. Her work had been supported by various religious groups and Human Rights organisations.

According to Lord Brockway, he did not believe that the Foreign Office will intervene with the decision of the Hong Kong Government.

Robert Parry suggested four proposals. They were:

|

1) to make this known to the British press including

TV interviews;

2) to invite MPs to start a signature campaign to protest against the handling of this affair;

3) to get U.S. Government to intervene; and,

G. F. 73A

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