TNAG-1348-FCO40-1789-Visas-and-transit-arrangements-for-Chinese-nationals-visitin-1984 — Page 35

GR 200

RESTRICTED

FI PEKING 100700Z FED 84

TO ROUTINE FCO

RESTRICTED

TELEGRAM NUMBER 218 OF 10 FEBRUARY

INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG

VISAS FOR HOLDERS OF PRC ORDINARY PASSPORTS

HKK 545/4

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

5 MAR 1984

DESK OFFICHA

INDEX

HED

we tral

NJZ.

REGISTRY

Action Tsken.

13/22

pa

1. AT A MEETING ON 9 FEBRUARY ON TRANSIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR

PRC NATIONALS THROUGH HONG KONG SONG YOUMING GAVE HEAD OF

CHANCERY NOTICE THAT THE CONSULAR DEPARTMENT INTENDED SHORTLY

TO RAISE AGAIN WITH THE EMBASSY THE QUESTION OF THE EMBASSY'S

REFUSAL TO ISSUE HONG KONG VISAS ON ORDINARY CHINESE PASSPORTS. THE CHINESE SIDE FOUND THIS UNREASONABLE.

:

2. GALSWORTHY SAID THAT THE REASONS WERE ENTIRELY PRACTICAL. THE EMBASSY'S VISA SECTION HAD ISSUED 16,500 VISAS IN THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR. THEY COULD NOT COPE WITH AN INCREASED

WORKLOAD WITHOUT ADDITIONAL STAFF AND THERE WAS NO HOUSING IN

PEKING FOR SUCH STAFF. THE EXISTING VISA LOAD WAS GREATER THAN

THAT OF ANY OTHER EMBASSY IN PEKING, INCLUDING THE US EMBASSY WHO HAD FAR MORE STAFF TO DEAL WITH IT. IT WAS RELEVANT THAT SOME 5 MILLION PEOPLE HAD CROSSED THE HONG KONG BORDER OVER THE PAST YEAR.

3. SONC APPEARED A LITTLE TAKEN ABACK BY THESE STATISTICS.

NEVERTHELESS WE THINK IT LIKELY THAT THE CHINESE WILL REVERT TO THE HATTER DEFORE LONG.

EVAKS

MINIMAL

i

MVD FED

{

RESTRICTED

THIS TELEGRAM

WAS NOT

ADVANCED