TNAG-1622-FCO40-2236-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1987 — Page 174

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OCMIAN 3984

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251000Z MAR

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TELNO 262

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25 MAD 1937

FCO TELNO 1493: PARKING OFFENCES BY CHINESE EMBASSY

1. AS YOU KNOW, HERVEY CALLED IN THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR ON

22 DECEMBER FOR A REVIEW OF THE POSITION ON PARKING OFFENCES.

DESPITE HERSEY'S REMINDER THE CHINESE EMBASSY HAVE STILL NOT

PAID OFF THE FINES INCURRED BY CAR 135 D 158 (PARAGRAPH 4 OF TUR). WE ALSO NOW KNOW THAT THEY INCURRED 199 FINES IN THE FINAL QUARTER OF 1986 AND WERE FOURTH WORST MISSION FOR PARKING OFFENCES. CAR 135 D 158 INCURRED 13 FINES DURING THE SAME

PERIOD. THIS CONTINUING POOR RECORD IS CONTRARY TO THE HOPE

EXPRESSED IN FCO TELNO 868. EVEN IF WE ACCEPTED (WHICH WE DO

NOT) THE CHINESE EMBASSY'S APPARENT BELIEF THAT FINES INCURRED

NEAR THE MISSION ARE ACCEPTABLE, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED THAT ABOUT

HALF OF ALL THEIR UNPAID FINES WERE INCURRED AWAY FROM THE

MISSION.

2.

ALTHOUGH WE SHALL NOT KNOW UNTIL WE RECEIVE THE JANUARY

FIGURES LATER THIS MONTH WHETHER HERVEY'S REPRESENTATIONS HAVE HAD ANY INFLUENCE ON THE EMBASSY'S PARKING HABITS, WE SUSPECT

THAT THE CHINESE STILL DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE REASONING BEHIND

OUR PARKING POLICY OR MORE IMPORTANT REALIZE THAT WE INTEND TO ENFORCE IT. WITH ONE EXCEPTION, NO OTHER LARGE MISSION HAS

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