TNAG-1873-FCO40-2661-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1989 — Page 4

4.

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(b) Report on Transport Department's Visit to Fujian

Province (para 13)

S for T said that he would prefer to decline the Fujian

proposal to use their drivers, coaches and lorries to

transport goods and people to Hong Kong. He believed

that the border crossing points would not tolerate the

additional traffic. PA noted that the problem would be

to sort out between the Provinces the priorities for

such traffic. He said it would be possible for his

office to speak to the NCNA explaining that there was a limit and asking them to sort out internal quotas for

Provinces. Guangdong was a close neighbour both geographically and economically but we were also trying to increase our contacts with Fujian.

S for T undertook to arrange a meeting to discuss the

matter further.

ACTION : S for T

5.

(c) Visas for Sov Bloc Visitors to Hong Kong (para 20)

CS noted that pressure was being applied to Government to be more flexible in its arrangements for Sov Bloc visitors. He noted that DS(S) would be chairing a meeting to review the policy on such visas. He suggested that a fresh steer be sought from Government

House. At a recent meeting, the Governor had said that

Hong Kong could be more relaxed in this area than it was at present. If others in the region were benefitting from trade with the Soviet Bloc, we should look carefully at our own policy. PA said that if the present criteria on numbers and purpose of visit were to be relaxed, it would require a conscious decision to

accept that there would be increased numbers of Sovbloc

people in Hong Kong under less stringent restrictions.

GF 323

CONFIDENTIAL

機密

མཾ་སཱ*་ན འ ་ བ་བན སPནས་༑