GRS 300
UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
нин
64 FC 040/28
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
4 NOV 1985
231
TOP COPY
TO PRIORITY FCQ
TELNO 2405
OF 020345Z NOVEMBER 35
INEO PRIORITY PEKING
230
FICER
50
: HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED: DISCUSSIONS ON RIGHT OF
ABODE ENDORSEMENTS IN BN (0) PASSPORTS.
TEXT OF STANDARD REPORT OF 2 NOVEMBER IS AS FOLLOWS
BEGINS.
HEADING : OUR PASSPORT TEAM GETS NOD FROM CHINA ON BEIJING TOUR
THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS GRANTED ITS APPROVAL FOR A HONG KONG TEAM TO VISIT BEIJING NEXT WEEK TO DISCUSS THE PASSPORT AND IDENTITY
CARD ISSUES.
IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE MEETINGS BETWEEN THE HONG KONG AND CHINESE OFFICIALS WILL BE HELD FROM NOVEMBER 2 TO 10.
SOURCES TOLD THE STANDARD THAT THE TEAMS WOULD TRY TO DETERMINE AND AGREE ON A FORM OF WORDING FOR THE NEW PASSPORTS AND IDENTITY CARDS. THEY SAID, HOWEVER, THAT NO FINAL DECISION WAS LIKELY UNTIL THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP MEETING, WHICH IS SCHEDULED FROM NOVEMBER
26 TO 29.
THE OFFICIAL APPROVAL BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO BEGIN THE
DISCUSSIONS IS INTERPRETED AS A MAJOR BREAK-THROUGH IN THE NEGOTIATIONS. THE CHINESE, HAD PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED A TOUGH STAND
REGARDING THE PARTICIPATION OF HONG KONG OFFICIALS IN ANY DIPLOMATIC
TALKS.
IT WAS SUGGESTED EARLIER THAT THE PRESENCE OF A HONG KONG TEAM WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE, AS THE ISSUES RELATED TO NATIONALITY AND SOVEREIGNTY. THE CHINESE SUGGESTED THAT THE ISSUES SHOULD BE
DISCUSSED THROUGH DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS BY THE TWO GOVERNMENTS
CONCERNED - BRITAIN AND CHINA.
THIS GAVE RISE TO SUSPICION BY BEIJING THAT THE INVOLVEMENT OF
A HONG KONG TEAM MIGHT REVIVE THE THREE-LEGGED STOOL**
.' CONCEPT
PUT FORWARD BY THE BRITISH.
WHEN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP WAS FORMED EARLIER THIS YEAR. BEIJING
REFUSED TO ACCEPT HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WHO WERE LOCAL CHINESE HOLDING BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZEN PASSPORTS AS
MEMBERS.
/BUT
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