TNAG-1349-FCO40-1790-Chinese-visa-office-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 186

COMMENT

CONFIDENTIAL

5. WE SHALL NEED TO AWAIT CONFIRMATION FROM THE CHINESE SIDE, PROBABALY TOMORROW, BUT IT LOOKS AS THOUGH WE

MAY BE HOME AND DRY. OUR INITIAL VIEW IS THAT IT

WOULD BE BETTER TO CARRY OUT THE EXCHANGES OF NOTES ON 13

APRIL. THE SIGNING CEREMONY, WHICH IS LIKELY TO BE AT

THE BEGINNING OF THE FIRST ROUND OF TALKS WITH WU XUEQIAN ON 16

APRIL, WILL BE GIVEN PUBLICITY, AND WE THINK THAT IT WOULD BE

DESIRABLE FOR THE OTHER TWO EXCHANGES OF NOTES NOT TO BE

INCLUDED IN THIS PUBLICITY. THIS IS ALSO THE POLITICAL ADVISERS

VIEW. GRATEFL FOR CONFIRMATION THAT YOU AGREE WITH THIS.

6. WE SEE NO DIFFICULTY IN CARRYING OUT THE EXCHANGES OF NOTES BEFORE THE SIGNATURE OF THE CONSULAR AGREEMENT, SINCE THAT ON THE VISA OFFICE WILL NOT COME INTO EFFECT UNTIL

LEGISLATION IS PASSED IN HONG KONG, AND THAT ON THE TRANSIT

OF CHINESE NATIONALS THROUGH HONG KONG IS IN PRACTICE

ALREADY IN FORCE AS AN ORAL AGREEMENT.

EVANS

LIMITED

HKD

NTD

FED

PROTOCOL. D.

CONSULAR.D.

LEGAL ADVISERS

MVD

PS

PS/MR. LUCE

SIR. W.HARDING MR. WILSON

LORD. N. GORDON

LENMOX

2

CONFIDENTIAL