TNAG-1281-FCO40-1632-Chinese-visa-office-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 79

Н.К.К. 3.49

RECEIVEL

207183

GRS 500

CONFIDENTIAL

DESK OFFIC

PA

Aujion Taken

CONFIDENTIAL

мо

FROM PEKING 20081OZ SEP 83 AMENDED DISTRIBUTION

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 909 OF 20TH SEPT

INFO HONG KONG

1983

79

R&R

Wolher

MIPT: CONSULAR AGREEMENT

Chinese

Visa Chice

1. THIS WAS A MORE CONSTRUCTIVE MEETING THAT ITS PREDECESSORS, WHICH SUPPORTS OUR BELIEF THAT THE CHINESE ARE NOW UNDER SOME PRESSURE TO REACH AGREEMENT, SINCE THEY WANT THE VISA OFFICE AGREEMENT TO COME INTO FORCE. THE COMPROMISE THEY ARE SUGGESTING IS NOT UNSATISFACTORY, PARTICULARLY IF THEY ACCEPT OUR NEW POINT ON ARTICLE 7. THEIR REACTION AT THE TABLE TO THIS WAS NON-COMMITTAL, BUT NOT HOSTILE.

2. ON CONSULAR DISTRICTS, OUR INCLINATION IS TO OFFER THEM ONE EXTRA COUNTY (CLEVELAND) ON THEIR CONSULAR DISTRICT, ON THE ANALOGY OF THE FRENCH AGREEMENT WHICH GIVES 9 DEPARTEMENTS FOR CONSULATE GENERAL AT MARSEILLE (NOT 8: WE HAD MISCOUNTED PREVIOUSLY).

3. ON ARTICLE 2 IN THE INTEREST OF REACHING A QUICK AGREEMENT, WE THINK THE BEST COURSE IS PROBABLY NOW TO EXPLORE POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE FORMULAE SUCH AS AN AGREED MINUTE EITHER BETWEEN GOVERNMENTS OR LEADERS OF DELEGATIONS (TEXTS WERE LEFT BY WHOMERSLEY BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE), OR A UNILATERAL DECLARATION. THIS WOULD BE ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT OUR VERSION OF ARTICLE 7 IS ACCEPTED. AS YOU KNOW, YOUR TELNO 276 GAVE US DISCRETION TO DROP OUR POINT ON ARTICLE 2 ALTOGETHER IF IT WERE THE LAST OUTSTANDING POINT. WE HOPE THAT IT WILL NOT BE NECESSARY TO GO QUITE THIS FAR, BUT WE DOUBT IF THE CHINESE CAN BE BROUGHT TO ACCEPT OUR PROPOSED DRAFT. THEY ARE NOT BEING FRANK WITH US ON THE REASONS FOR THIS, BUT WE SUSPECT THAT IT IS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WISH US TO BE ABLE SO SAY IN FUTURE THAT ANY ARRANGEMENT WHICH THEY MAY MAKE FOR THE SITING OF FOREIGN CONSULATES IN SHANGHAN, INCLUDING OURS, IS SUBJECT TO OUR AGREEMENT (THAT IS, IF WE REFUSED TO AGREE, THEY COULD NOT MOVE US).

4. THE CHINESE SIDE SAID THAT THEY EXPECTED THAT WE WOULD BE SUMMONED VERY SOON TO DISCUSS THE VISA OFFICE AGREEMENT SEPARATELY.

CONFIDENTIAL

15.

an