TNAG-2282-FCO40-3282-Hong-Kong-visa-policy-1991 — Page 104

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YOUR TELNO MISC 51: GEORGIE ARBATOV: VISA REFUSAL

ARBATOV APPLIED TO COME TO HONG ON 16 FEBRUARY TO GIVE TO LECTURES AT HONG KONG UNIVERSITY AND LINGNAN COLLEGE.

2. HIS APPLICATION WAS MADE TOO LATE TO RECEIVE SECURITY CLEARANCE BEFORE HIS PLANNED ARRIVAL DATE. MOREOVER, AS POINTED OUT, HE DOES HAVE A DUBIOUS PAST.

3.

WE HAVE BEEN REVIEWING OUR VISA POLICY TOWARDS THE SOVIET UNION AND OTHER EAST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AND HAVE RECENTLY RELAXED RESTRICTIONS CONSIDERABLY. SECURITY ADVICE FROM LONDON WAS, HOWEVER, VERY FIRMLY THAT WE SHOULD MAINTAIN THE STRICT REGIME OF SECURITY CHECKING WHICH WOULD REQUIRE 28 DAYS. GIVEN PAST RUSSIAN FORM ON ATTEMPTING TO UNDERMINE RESTRICTIONS AGAINST THEM, WE WOULD NOT WISH TO BREACH THIS REQUIREMENT IN ANY BUT THE MOST EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

DESPITE ABATOV'S PAST RECORD AND HIS APPLICATION BEING LATE, OUR MAIN CONCERN WAS HIS HIGH PROFILE. APART FROM OUR NEW MORE RELAXED POLICY ON SOVIET VISITORS, WE ARE ALSO LIKELY TO BE FACED WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF AN AEROFLOT PRESENCE HERE IN THE FAIRLY SHORT TERM. ALTHOUGH WE ARE NOT ANTICIPATING AN UNFAVOURABLE REACTION FROM CHINA, WE ARE KEEN NOT TO DO ANYTHING THAT MIGHT JEOPARDISE THESE TWO FAR MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES.

5.

FOR ALL THESE REASONS, WE WOULD PREFER NOT/NOT TO MARK THE START OF OUR MORE LIBERAL POLICY WITH AN ARBATOV VISIT ON 16 FEBRUARY.

WILSON

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