TNAG-1281-FCO40-1632-Chinese-visa-office-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 193

CONFIDENTIAL

OO HONG KONG

GRS 234

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO 221700Z APR 83

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 386 OF 22 APRIL

INFO PEKING

PA HUK 349/1

3857

K

2

HKK 349/1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

2 8 APR 1983

15

See 16

14K OFFICER

REC.

PA

AF 28/4

}

PEKING TELNO.353 AND YOUR TELNO.555

1. AS THE QUESTION OF PRIVILEGES ETC FOR THE VISA OFFICE SEEMS

LIKELY TO BECOME AN OBSTACLE TO CONCLUSION OF THE CONSULAR

AGREEMENT, AND AS WE DO ATTACH IMPORTANCE TO SUCCESSFUL

NEGOTIATION OF THAT AGREEMENT, IT WOULD BE VERY CONVENIENT TO

HAVE EXCO APPROVAL OF A MORE FLEXIBLE POSITION. WE SHOULD BE

GRATEFUL THEREFORE IF YOU WOULD CONSULT EXCO ON THE LINES YOU

SUGGEST, SPECIFYING THE CONNECTION WITH THE CONSULAR AGREEMENT

AND THE LIMITED NATURE OF THE CONCESSION.

2.

ASSUMING EXCO AGREEMENT WE SHOULD THEN WISH TO CONSIDER IN

THE LIGHT OF THE CHINESE POSITION AT THE TIME WHETHER, AND IF SO HOW AND WHEN, TO DEPLOY A PROPOSAL TO THE CHINESE. BUT WE WOULD

WISH TO DISCUSS THE SUBSTANCE OF THE VISA OFFICE QUESTION OUTSIDE

THE FRAMEWORK OF THE TALKS ON THE CONSULAR AGREEMENT. AS YOU

SUGGEST THIS SHOULD IN FACT SUIT THE WIDER CHINESE PURPOSE.

PYM

NNNN

DISTRIBUTION:

LIMITED

FED

NTD

CONSULAR D

PCD

HKGD

LEGAL ADVISER

PS/LORD BELSTEAD

PS/PUS

MR GIFFARD

MR DONALD

CONFIDENTAL