TNAG-2357-FCO40-3428-Official-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 78

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PROPOSED VISIT BY CZECHOSLOVAK DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER TO HONG KONG

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1 CONSUL WAS CALLED TO THE MFA ON 22 MARCH BY SOUKUP, ACTING DIRECTOR OF FAR EAST DEPARTMENT. SOUKUP SAID THAT HE WOULD BE ACCOMPANYING DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER PALOUS ON A TOUR OF SOME FAR EASTERN COUNTRIES IN APRIL AND THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO VISIT HONG KONG ON 28/29 APRIL. HE REQUESTED ASSISTANCE IN ARRANGING CALLS ON MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT/OFFICIALS ON THE MORNING OF 29 APRIL TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING:

A.

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THE WISH OF THE CZECHOSLOVAK AUTHORITIES TO APPOINT AN HONORARY CONSUL IN HONG KONG. THEY HAVE A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE IN MIND BUT WOULD WELCOME NOMINATIONS FROM THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES.

B.

THE INTENTION OF THE CZECHOSLOVAK GOVERNMENT TO LEGISLATE FOR THE ADMISSION AS IMMIGRANTS OF A CERTAIN NUMBER OF HONG KONG RESIDENTS. THE ARRANGEMENT IN OUTLINE WOULD BE THAT HONG KONG RESIDENTS WHO WERE ACCEPTED FOR IMMIGRATION WOULD BE REQUIRED TO DEPOSIT A SUM OF MONEY AMOUNTING TO BETWEEN US 100,000 AND 200,000 IN A CZECHOSLOVAK BANK. THIS WOULD GUARANTEE THE DEPOSITOR THE RIGHT TO TAKE UP RESIDENCE HERE PROVIDED, BEFORE ACTUALLY DOING SO, HE ARRANGED THE TRANSFER OF A FURTHER US 100,000. THOSE HONG KONG RESIDENTS WHO WERE GRANTED THE RIGHT TO IMMIGRATE WOULD BE EXPECTED TO BE CAPABLE OF SETTING UP BUSINESSES WHICH WOULD CREATE JOBS HERE.

2. CONSUL ASKED WHETHER SOUKUP WAS AWARE OF THE PROPOSAL FOR A VISA WAIVER AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND THE CZECHOSLOVAK GOVERNMENT WHICH HAD BEEN PUT TO THE MFA'S CONSULAR DEPARTMENT. SOUKUP SAID HE WAS AWARE OF IT AND THAT THE CZECHOSLOVAK AUTHORITIES HAD SOME MISGIVINGS ABOUT THE WISDOM OF ENTERING INTO SUCH AN AGREEMENT AT THIS MOMENT. HE INDICATED THAT THIS COULD ALSO BE DISCUSSED IN HONG KONG.

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PLEASE ADVISE WHAT REPLY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO SOUKUP AND DETAILS OF WHATEVER ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE FOR DISCUSSIONS WITH HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

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