RESTRICTED
FM MOSCOW
TO DESKBY 15083OZ HONG KONG
TELNO MIS 570
OF 15073OZ AUGUST 92
AND TO DESKBY 15083OZ FCO
INFO ROUTINE PEKIN
(49
RESTRICTED
127307 MDHIAN 5459
FOR POLITCAL ADVISER
(4.8
YOUR TELNO 2123: VISA REFUSALS
•
1 I SPOKE AT 15063OZ TO PARSHIN (MFA). I TOLD HIM THAT YOU CONSIDERED THAT YOU HAD GOOD REASONS FOR ALL FOUR REFUSALS, BUT THAT AS A GESTURE OF GOOD WILL YOU WERE PREPARED TO AUTHORISE A VISA IN
CASE.
2. I ADDED THAT YOU NATURALLY HOPED THAT THE REMAINING OFFICIALS WOULD GO AHEAD WITH THEIR VISIT. THE RUSSIAN AVIATION AUTHORITIES WOULD BE WELL AWARE WHY THE VISAS HAD BEEN REFUSED (PARSHIN DEMED THIS): AT A TIME WHEN THE RUSSIANS WERE PLANNING TO EXPAND LINKS WITH HONG KONG BY OPEINING A COSULATE-GENERAL IT WOULD GIVE AN UNFORTUNATE IMPRESSION OF RUSSIA'S PRIORITIES IN RELATION TO HONG KONG IF THEY CHOSE TO MAKE AN ISSUE OF THE REFUSALS.
3. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL TO KNOW IN DUE COURSE IF THE RUSSIANS DO TURN UP.
RICHARDS
HKD 3211/2
YYYY
MAIN
71
DISTRIBUTION
71
EASTERN D
HKD
CED
AMD
PUSD
NEWS D
PAGE
PS
PS/MR GOODLAD PS/MR HOGG
PS/PUS
MR GREENSTOCK
MR BURNS
1
RESTRICTED
NNNN
THIS IS A COPY
THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN
CLOSED UNDER
FOI EXEMPTION NO. 40(2)
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