TNAG-1281-FCO40-1632-Chinese-visa-office-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 196

GR 260

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM PEKING 22041OZ APR 83

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

Seeiz

TELNO 359 OF 22 APRIL

PA

Hun 349/1

RPTD INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG.

(14

HONG KONG TELNO 555: UK/CHINA CONSULAR AGREEMENT

HKK 349/1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

PA

REGISTRY

Action Taken

AF 28/4

1. AT THE MOMENT THE POSITION IS THAT WE HAVE CHALLENGED THE APR 1093 CHINESE TO SAY CLEARLY WHETHER THEY WISH THIS AGREEMENT TO BEOFFICER EXTENDED TO HONG KONG ON THE CLEAR UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE A SPECIFIC REFERENCE IN IT TO SUCH AN EXTENSION. WE HAVE ALSO WARNED THEM THAT THE WHOLE SUBSTANCE WOULD HAVE TO BE CONSIDERER AFRESH. WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL NOT WANT THIS, AND THEY ARE IN SOME CONFUSION. WE DO NOT EXPECT TO GET BACK TO THIS MATTER UNTIL 23 APRIL, OR POSSIBLY EVEN 25 APRIL WHEN THE CHINESE WILL HAVE TO REPLY.

2. ASSUMING THAT THE REPLY IS THAT THE AGREEMENT SHOULD NOT BE EXTENDED TO COVER HONG KONG, WE PROPOSE TO TAKE THE LINE THAT THE MATTER OF PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES FOR THE VISA OFFICE CAN BE DISCUSSED, BUT THAT IT MUST BE DONE SO IN CONSULTATIONS SEPARATE FROM THOSE ON THE UK/CHINA CONSULAR AGREEMENT.

3. WE FEAR HOWEVER THAT IT IS INCREASINGLY LIKELY THAT THE CHINESE WILL IN PRACTICE MAKE A LINK BETWEEN THE CONSULAR AGREE- MENT AND THE QUESTION OF PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES. IT IS CERTAINLY WHAT WE WOULD DO IN THEIR PLACE.

4. WE SHALL NOT OF COURSE GIVE ANY INDICATION THAT HONG KONG MIGHT BE READY TO EXTEND PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES. WE SHALL TRY TO SEND A FURTHER REPORT BEFORE THE EXCO MEETING ON 26 APRIL.

IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW AT WHAT TIME OF DAY THE LATTER WILL

TAKE PLACE.

CRADOCK

LIMITED

FED

NTD

CONS.D.

CHIEF CLERK

Paco

MR. GIFFARD

HKd GD

MR. DONALD

PS/LORD BELSTEAD Ps/pus

THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED

POD

MR. STREETON

PPD

LORD. N.G. LENNOX

PSD

LEGAL ADVS.

CONFIDENTIAL