TNAG-2021-FCO40-2883-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Hungary-1990 — Page 77

SECRET

155236 MDLIAN 9523

SECRET

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 624

OF 19064OZ FEBRUARY 90

INFO ROUTINE BUDAPEST, PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

BUDAPEST TELNO 102 TO FCO: HUNGARY/HONG KONG

1. AS YOU ARE AWARE WE HAVE RECENTLY RELAXED CONSIDERABLY OUR VISA RESTRICTIONS FOR HUNGARIAN AND OTHER EASTERN EUROPEAN BUSINESSMEN COUT TELNO 3534 OF 23 OCTOBER 1989 REFERS). IN THE LIGHT OF POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN EASTERN EUROPE, WE ARE REVIEWING THE RESTRICTION ONCE MORE TO SEE IF FURTHER LIBERALISATION AND FASTER PROCESSING ARE JUSTIFIED. WE HAVE RECENTLY SOUGHT THE SECURITY SERVICE'S ADVICE ON THE THREAT NOW POSED BY THE INTELLIGENCE SERVICES OF THE VARIOUS EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. THEIR RESPONSE WILL BE AN IMPORTANT FACTOR FOR ANY FUTURE CHANGES IN OUR POLICY.

2. WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A DEVELOPMENT OF TWO-WAY TRADE BEFORE CONSIDERING THE FURTHER STEP OF ANY PERMANENT HUNGARIAN PRESENCE HERE. PERHAPS THE MOST POSITIVE APPROACH FOR BUDAPEST WOULD BE FOR THEM TO ENCOURAGE BONA FIDE BUSINESSMEN TO VISIT HONG KONG. IF THERE ARE STILL CASES WHERE THERE ARE DIFFICULTIES THEY COULD HELP US IMPROVE THE SYSTEM BY BRINGING THEM TO OUR ATTENTION AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.

WILSON

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

60

LIMITED

EED

JAU/EED

HKD

FED

ERD

PROTOCOL

DISTRIBUTION

61

PAGE

PS

PS/MR WALDEGRAVE

PS/MR MAUDE

PS/PUS

MR WESTON

MR GILLMORE

MR TAIT

1

SECRET