TNAG-1233-FCO40-1546-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 30

CONFIDENTIAL

ANGLO-SOVIET PLANNING TALKS: ESSENTIAL FACTS

HONG KONG IMMIGRATION POLICY TOWARDS SOVBLOC NATIONALS

(Defensive)

General

1. Hong Kong Government policy is to keep to absolute minimum

number of East European (and particularly Russians) permitted to

enter Hong Kong, even for short periods. Aim is to prevent Sovbloc

countries establishing presence in Hong Kong which might be used as

a base for observation of Chinese, propaganda purposes or intelligence

operations against the Chinese mainland. Chinese are extremely

sensitive to Soviet activities against them and would react

adversely to the establishment of any Sovbloc foothold in the territory.

}

Recent cases

2.

In December 1982, the Hong Kong Government refused a visa to

Mr Vladimir D Khandogy, a Ukrainian representative of the UN Special Committee against Apartheid while allowing two non-Sovbloc colleagues

to attend a seminar organised by the Asian Students Association.

3.

In a separate case British Embassy Moscow has just written to Hong Kong Government Immigration Authorities to pass on enquiry from

Soviet MFA as to whether visas would be granted to 3 members of Soviet

All-Union Chamber of Commerce to visit Hong Kong later this year to

participate in international trade fair in Hong Kong.

4.

The Hong Kong Government professes to judge each case on its merits

and as a matter of policy does not give reasons for refusing individual

applications for visas. But it is now fairly generally known that

Sovbloc nationals are usually refused entry.

CONFIDENTIAL

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