TNAG-1206-FCO40-1508-Policy-on-visas-and-entry-certificates-in-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 5

B

Copy Attached

CO Hkx244/1

HIKK 244/1 D MKK 244E-14

HIK 244/1F

?

HA244G-15

Campaign Against Military and Nuclear Collaboration with South Africa, Oslo, whom the SCAA have decided to send as the key-note speaker to the seminar.

4.

Based on FCO Circular '014/74 Hong Kong maintained a policy of excluding Soviet-bloc diplomats. They are reluctant to make an exception for Khandogy. They consider it possible that the Chinese would view the presence of a Russian involved with a gathering of Asian students with some disfavour. (Hong Kong telegrams number 1386 and 1406). Peking support Hong Kong's reluctance to make an exception in his case (Peking telegram number 809). Moscow do not envisage any adverse Soviet reaction (Moscow telegram number 803)

5.

UKMis New York (UKMis telegram 1951) on the other hand are pressing strongly for flexibility on the grounds that apartheid is a very sensitive issue at the UN and our attitude. to it is one of the most important determinants of our influence (or lack thereof) with third world delegations. Our attitude is also regarded with suspicion because we have to vote against so many of the annual apartheid resolutions. Refusal to admit Khandogy would heighten this suspicion and create the impression that we were out to frustrate the Special Committee's activities whenever we could. Sir J Thomson (UKMis telegram number 1994) has stressed that the following points weigh heavily in New York:

(a)

(b)

(c)

that any refusal by us to allow a member of SCAA to visit Hong Kong would reflect on our attitude to the UN; the fact that the Asian Students' Association is able legitimately to hold the seminar in Hong Kong makes it very difficult to refuse a visa to a SCAA member; the SCAA's Chairman, Ambassador Maitama-Sule of Nigeria, is the most senior and prestigious black African Ambassador at the UN and we shall need the cooperation and understanding of Nigeria and of the Ambassador personally in the future over South African issues at the UN. Sir J Thompson queries whether it need not be

could

explained to the Chinese that we are admitting Khandogy only because of the Ukraine's membership of SCAA and that it does not betoken any change in Hong Kong's normal policy of excluding Soviet-bloc nationals.

CONFIDENTIAL

/6.