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ATTACHED TO THE EMBASSY.
4. OPTION (A) HAS THE THEORETICAL MERITS OF SIMPLICITY, AND OF
BEING LEAST LIKELY TO ATTRACT A COUNTER-REQUEST FROM THE CHINESE
SIDE FOR IMMUNITY FOR THEIR OWN ANCILL ARY STAFF WHICH WOULD
CAUSE COMPLICATIONS IN HONG KONG (SEE BELOW). BUT WE COULD ONLY
CONTEMPLATE IT IN THE FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES:
(I) IF WE COULD BE SATISFIED THAT OUR ANCILL ARY STAFF WOULD
STILL BE ADEQUATELY PROTECTED WHILE IN CHINA. IN PRACTICE THAT
WOULD PROBABLY MEAN SATISFYING OURSELVESTHAT IN CHINESE EYES
DILOMATS AND OFFICIALS ON TEMPORARYMISSION, BUT NOT ACCREDITED,
ENJOYED IMMUNITY, AT LEAST DE FACTE: (PERHAPS SIMPLY BY VIRTUE OF
POSSESSION OF A DIPLOMATIC OR SERVICE VISA.
WE WONDER WHETHER THIS IS NOT IN PRACTICE THE CASE.
WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY INDICATION OF THE CHINESE ATTITUDE
WHICH PEKING CAN PROVIDE (ALTHOUGH WITHOUT CONSULTING THE
CHINESE).
(II) IF THIS WOULD MEET THE NEEDS OF ANY HONG KONG
PARTICIPANTS IN THE GROUP. WE SHOULD WELCOME HONG KONG'S
COMMENTS ON THE DEGREE OF IMMUNITY WHICH WOULD BE CONSIDERED
DESIRABLE OR ATTAINABLE FOR THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS
FROM HONG KONG WHO MIGHT TAKE PART ON THE BRITISH SIDE (IE BRITISH
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, EXPATRIATE OFFICERS OF THE HONG KONG
GOVERNMENT OR HONG KONG CHINESE) AND THE VIEWS OF BOTH ADDRESSEES
ON THE CHANCE THAT THIS MIGHT BE SECURED BY POSSESSION OF A
DIPLOMATIC OR SERVICE VISA.
5. OPTION (B) MAY, WE BELIEVE BE CLOSER TO OUR USUAL PRACTICE
WHEN THERE ARE OFFICIAL BRITISH VISITORS WORKING TEMPORARILY IN
PEKING. WE SHOULD WELCOME VIEWS FROM YOU BOTH ON WHETHER
PARTICIPANTS FROM HONG KONG SHOULD OR COULD IN ANY WAY BE COVERED
BY THE SAME PROCEDURE. A POTENTIAL DRAWBACK IS THAT WHETHER OR
NOT WE GIVE THE CHINESE ADVANCE NOTICE OF OUR INTENTION TO ATTACH
TO THE EMBASSY ANY SUPPORTING STAFF OR EXPERTS THEY MIGHT AT SOME
STAGE SEEK RECIPROCAL ARRANGEMENTS IN LONDON AND HONG KONG. IN
LONDON THIS COULD PROBABLY BE AGREED. IN HONG KONG THERE IS OF
COURSE NO CHINESE DIPLOMATIC MISSION, AND THE NEAREST EQUIVALENT
IS THE VISA OFFICE WITH A SPECIAL REGIME OF IMMUNITIES SET OUT IN
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folyos
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