TNAG-1349-FCO40-1790-Chinese-visa-office-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 197

7. AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF KEEPING TRACK OF THE NUMBER OF PASSPORTS

ISSUED IS HOWEVER AVAILABLE. THIS IS BECAUSE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT

WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE MADE AWARE OF ALL NEWLY ISSUED PASSPORTS EITHER

WHEN THE PASSPORT HOLDERS PRESENT THEMSELVES FOR RENEWAL OF

ENDORSEMENT IN HONG KONG, OR IF THEY FAIL TO DO SO WHEN THEY SEEK

TO LEAVE AND ARE STOPPED. IT WILL BE COMPARTIVELY SIMPLE FOR

IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT TO COMPILE QUARTERLY REPORTS WHICH COULD

BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR MEMBERS' SCRUTINY, IT IS THEREFORE PROPOSED

THAT H M EMBASSY PEKING BE INSTRUCTED TO TELL THE CHINESE THAT WE

DO NOT INSIST ON PASSPORTS BEING SUBMITTED DIRECT TO THE IMMIGRATION

DEPARTMENT BY THE VISA OFFICE: BUT THAT ALL RECIPIENTS OF REPLACEMENT

PASSPORTS SHOULD BE ADVISED, PREFERABLY IN WRITING, TO APPLY

IMMEDIATELY TO IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT FOR RENEWAL OF ENDORSEMENT.

RECOMMENDATION

8. IT IS THE JUDGMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND H M EMBASSY PEKING THAT THE CHINESE SIDE UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT THE LIMITATIONS ON THE ROLE OF THE VISA OFFICE. THERE HAS BEEN NO ATTEMPT SINCE IT BEGAN WORK IN NOVEMBER 1981 TO USURP ANY OF THE POLITICAL OR REPRESENT- ATIONAL FUNCTIONS TRADITIONALLY PERFORMED BY THE NCNA. THE ABILITY TO ISSUE REPLACEMENT PASSPORTS IS A LOGICAL EXTENSION OF ITS VISA

ISSUING ACTIVITIES.

9. THE FORMAL GRANT OF PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITES WHICH FOR THE MOST PART THE VISA OFFICE ALREADY ENJOYS IN PRACTICE WILL NOT AFFECT THIS SITUATION. IT IS THERFORE RECOMMENDED THAT THE EMBASSY SHOULD BE AUTHORISED TO CONCLUDE THE EXCHANGE OF NOTES ON THIS SUBJECT DURING THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO PEKING IF THIS WOULD ENABLE THE CONSULAR AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED AT THE SAME TIME.

10. IT IS ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT THE METHOD OF MONITORING REPLACEMENT PASSPORTS OUTLINED IN PARAGRAPH 7 ABOVE SHOULD BE APPROVED.

PUBLIC REACTION

11. THERE IS UNLIKELY TO BE ANY PUBLIC REACTION UNTIL LEGISLATION IS INTRODUCED. THE SPECIAL POSITION OF CHINESE GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS OTHER THAN BUSINESS COMPANIES IS GENERALLY UNDERSTOOD. THE FACT THAT SEPARATE ARRANGEMENTS HAVE TO BE MADE TO ACCORD A DEGREE OF PRIVILEGE AND IMMUNITY TO THE VISA OFFICE WHICH IS AVAILABLE TO CONSULATES AND COMMISSIONS IS UNLIKELY TO CAUSE MUCH SURPRISE. THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF REPLACEMENT PASSPORTS ARE UNLIKELY TO ATTRACT SIGNIFICANT ATTENTION.

ADVICE SOUGHT

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/12. MEMBERS