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3. THE SIMPLEST WAY OF PREVENTING THIS WOULD BE TO REFUSE HU A VISA.
HOWEVER, HE HAS BEEN HELPFUL TO US IN THE PAST. WHEN WE LEARNED IN DECEMBER 1992 OF PLANS FOR THE FREE CHINA CENTRE TO MOVE INTO HIGHER PROFILE PREMISES UNDER A NEW AND MORE PROVOCATIVE NAME, HE INTERVENED SUCCESSFULLY AT OUR REQUEST TO BLOCK THEM. WE THEREFORE DO NOT WISH TO GIVE HIM UNNECESSARY OFFENCE: AND WONDER WHETHER HE MIGHT IN ANY CASE BE RESPONSIVE TO GENTLE PERSUASION RATHER THAN A BLUNT REFUSAL.
4. SUBJECT TO ANY VIEWS FROM THE DEPARTMENT (IF POSSIBLE DESKBY 23010OZ) AND TO THOSE OF DIRECTOR ATTC TAIPEI WE WOULD THEREFORE BE GRATEFUL IF THE LATTER COULD SEEK AN OPPORTUNITY DURING THE MORNING OF 23 JUNE TO EXPLAIN OUR DIFFICULTIES TO HU. WE HOPE THAT, IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, HE COULD BE PERSUADED NOT TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE. MORRICE COULD PERHAPS REMIND HIM THAT WE HAD BEEN GRATEFUL FOR HIS HELP IN THE PAST: WE HOPE HE MIGHT SHOW THE SAME KIND OF UNDERSTANDING NOW AS HE HAD ON THAT OCCASION.
5. IF SUCH AN APPROACH FAILS, OR IS IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE IN THE TIME AVAILABLE, WE WILL NEED TO TAKE AN URGENT DECISION ON THE VISA (BY EARLY AFTERNOON HONG KONG TIME ON 23 JUNE, SINCE 24 JUNE IS A PUBLIC HOLIDAY HERE). THE GOVERNOR WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ADVICE ON WHETHER WE SHOULD REFUSE A VISA IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.
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.HK POLICY
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LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT LEGAL ADVISERS//MISS BROOKS
LEGAL ADVISERS//MR GILES NEWS D
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PS/MR GOODLAD
SIR J COLES MR HUM
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7
CAOFF//SIR R BRAITHWAITE (DIO) CAOFF//MISS NEVILLE-JONES
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PS NO 10.
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