TNAG-1281-FCO40-1632-Chinese-visa-office-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 167

GRS 400

CONFIDENTIAL

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CONFIDENHAL

TOP COPY

- HIGD

HKK 349/1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

19 MAY 1983

See

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FROM PEKING 170545Z MAY 83

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 49 OF 17/5/83

DESK OFFICER

REPEATED FOR INFO TO PRIORITY FCO

INDEX

PA

Toon

MIPT: CHINESE VISA OFFICE

1. CHINESE DRAFT AS FOLLOWS:

BEGINS.

2. THE CONSULAR DEPARTMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA PRESENTS ITS. COMPLIMENTS TO THE EMBASSY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND IN CHINA AND HAS THE HONOUR TO CONFIRM THAT IN ACCORD- ANCE WITH THE MEMORANDUM EXCHANGED ON 23 SEPTEMBER 1981 BETWEEN MR NIE GONGCHENG, DIRECTOR OF THE CONSULAR DEPARTMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, AND MR M W ATKINSON, COUNSELLOR OF THE EMBASSY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND, THE CHINESE AND BRITISH SIDES HAVE CONDUCTED CONTINUED CONSULTATION RECENTLY IN BEIJING ON THE OUTSTANDING ISSUES WITH REGARD TO THE VISA OFFICE OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

IN HONG KONG AND REACHED THE FOLLOWING UNDERSTANDING:

1.

OWING TO THE FACT THAT THE VISA OFFICE OF THE MINISISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPULBIC OF CHINA IN HONG KONG IS AN ORGAN DESPATCHED BY THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES IN HONG KONG HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE

ALL APPROPRIATE MEASURES TO PROTECT ITS PREMISES FROM ANY ENCROACHMENT OR DAMAGE AND GUARANTEE THE PERSONAL SAFETY OF ITS OFFICIALS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS.

2.

IN CASE OF A CRIMINAL OR CIVIL COMPLAINT AGAINST OFFICIALS

OF THE OFFICE AND THEIR DEPENDENTS, THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES IN HONG KONG SHOULD SETTLE THE ISSUE THROUGH DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS.

CONFIDEN HAL

13. THE