TNAG-2649-FCO40-3842-Hong-Kong-visa-policy-with-other-countries-1992 — Page 13

RESTRICTED

135241

MDTTAN 3786

5. SAMAHA RECOGNISED THAT LEBANON HAD A BAD REPUTATION AND THAT THERE WAS CONCERN ABOUT TERRORISM. BUT THINGS WERE NOW MUCH IMPROVED AND HE COULD NOT SEE WHY HONG KONG NEEDED TO HAVE A SPECIAL REGIME FOR LEBANESE CITIZENS WHEN PALESTINIANS (FOR EXAMPLE) COULD GET VISAS WITHOUT DIFFICULTY. I SAID I DID NOT KNOW THE BACKGROUND AND WOULD MAKE ENQUIRIES.

I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD INVESTIGATE AND LET ME KNOW WHETHER THERE IS ANYTHING ENCOURAGING I CAN SAY TO SAMAHA, WHO IS A FRIENDLY COLLEAGUE. I AM COPYING THIS TELELETTER TO LONDON AND BEIRUT BECAUSE SAMAHA THOUGHT THAT APPROACHES MIGHT BE MADE THERE, IN ADDITION TO HIS OWN.

I AM COPYING THIS TELELETTER TO S WJ FULLER, NENAD, FCO, AND DE TATHAM, BEIRUT.

ROBIN MCLAREN

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

1

SINGLE COPIES

NENAD //SWJ FULLER

NNNN

DISTRIBUTION

1

2

PAGE

RESTRICTED