CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 464
OF 111655Z MARCH 92
INFO PRIORITY MOSCOW
CONFIDENTIAL
162276
P MDHOAN 1249
HKC 181
181/21
TOP COPY Q DIST?
см
وم
FOR POLITICAL ADVISER FROM HKD
HONG KONG/RUSSIA AIR SERVICES: APPOINTMENT OF AEROFLOT MANAGER TO HONG KONG OFFICE
M
1 THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT HAVE CONTACTED US FOLLOWING A COMPLAINT RECEIVED FROM THE RUSSIAN AVIATION DIRECTORATE, ABOUT AEROFLOT'S DIFFICULTIES IN ATTEMPTING TO SET UP AN OFFICE IN HONG KONG UNDER THE AGREED MINUTE OF 14 JUNE 1991.
2. THE RUSSIANS HAD NOMINATED MR C MATVEYEV, A FORMER MEMBER OF THE USSR DELEGATION WHO NEGOTIATED THE AGREED MINUTE, AS GENERAL MANAGER OF THE PROPOSED AEROFLOT OFFICE IN HONG KONG. HE WAS GRANTED A SHORT VISIT VISA AND VISITED HONG KONG IN NOVEMBER '91 WITH AN AEROFLOT DELEGATION TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO OPEN AN OFFICE. DURING THIS VISIT HE WAS ADVISED BY HONG KONG IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS ''THAT ANY APPLICATION TO TAKE UP EMPLOYMENT IN HONG KONG WOULD BE CONSIDERED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS UNDER EXISTING POLICY AND THAT NO COMMITMENT COULD BE MADE''. MR MATVEYEV'S SUBSEQUENT APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT VISA IN DECEMBER 1991 WAS REFUSED ''ON POLICY GROUNDS''.
IN
3. THE RUSSIAN MINISTERY OF TRANSPORT HAVE ALREADY BEEN TOUCH WITH HK ECONOMIC SERVICES BRANCH TO ASK WHETHER HKG POLICY TO THE AGREED MINUTE HAD CHANGED, AND WERE INFORMED THAT HONG KONG WOULD ABIDE BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE AGREED MINUTE BUT REFERRED TO PARAGRAPH 11, WHICH PROVIDES THAT 'THE ADMISSION OF SUCH STAFF WILL BE GOVERNED BY THE RELEVANT RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE RESPECTIVE COMPETENT AUTHORITIES''.
GRATEFUL TO KNOW THE GROUNDS ON WHICH MR MATVEYEV WAS REFUSED, (PRESUMABLY SOMETHING IN HIS PERSONAL BACKGROUND MADE HIM UNACCEPTABLE?) WE ASSUME THAT, PROVIDING THE RUSSIANS PROPOSE SOMEONE WITH A MORE ''SUITABLE'' BACKGROUND, HKID WOULD BE PREPARED TO GRANT AN EMPLOYMENT VISA? GRATEFUL FOR ADVICE DESKBY 1309OOZ.
1
PAGE CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.