TNAG-2965-FCO40-4244-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Consular-representation-of-European-Coun-1993 — Page 74

311438Z

FOR HONG KONG DEPT COMMENT:

See Hum's minte

931/3.51

да

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 508

OF 301037Z MARCH 93

INFO ROUTINE MOSCOW

30

MOSCOW TELNO 137 : RUSSIAN CONSULATE IN HONG KONG

1. AFANASYEV ARRIVED IN HONG KONG ON 14 MARCH 1993 AS PLANNED AND RETURNED TO MOSCOW ON 21 MARCH AEROFLOT FLIGHT. ANFANASYEV CALLED ON SEVERAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND GAVE MEDIA INTERVIEWS WHICH PROVIDED INFORMATION ON RUSSIAN PLANS FOR THEIR CONSULATE GENERAL IN HONG KONG.

2.

AFANASYEV INDICATED THAT IN ABOUT THREE TO FOUR MONTHS THE RUSSIANS WOULD SEND THREE DIPLOMATS TO SET UP THE MISSION. ONE OF THESE DIPLOMATS WOULD BE TEMPORARILY IN CHARGE PENDING THE APPOINTMENT OF A CONSUL-GENERAL. WHEN FULLY STAFFED THE MISSION WOULD HAVE TEN CONSULAR OFFICERS: THE EMPHASIS WOULD BE ON TRADE AND COMMERCE BUT THERE WOULD ALSO BE POLITICAL AND CONSULAR OFFICERS. ADMINISTRATIVE AND TECHNICAL STAFF (CONSULAR EMPLOYEES), AFANASYEV SAID, WOULD BE EXTRA. HE ADDED IT WAS NOT THEIR PRACTICE TO RECRUIT LOCALLY. HE WAS TOLD THAT WITHOUT CANTONESE SPEAKERS ON THE STAFF THE MISSION WOULD FACE PRACTICAL PROBLEMS.

3. THE FIGURES FOR CONSULAR STAFF ARE, IN OUR VIEW, EXCESSIVE AND CONFIRM THE FIGURES QUOTED IN OUR TELNO 341, WHICH, IF ANYTHING, WILL PROVE TO BE AN UNDERESTIMATE. WE WONDER IF THERE WOULD BE MILEAGE IN ASKING THE RUSSIANS TO CONSIDER AN INCREMENTAL APPROACH TO THE STAFFING OF THEIR CONSULATE GENERAL. THIS WOULD HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF PERMITTING THEM TO INCREASE THEIR STAFF GRADUALLY BUT WITHOUT ANY LOSS OF PRESTIGE.

PATTEN

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

14

SINGLE COPIES

0

HKD

1

EASTERN D.

RAD

MVD

PUSD//HD

1

1

1

1

PUSD//D/HD

1

SECURITY D

1

PS/PUS

1

PS/MR GOODLAD

1

PS/MR HOGG

1

CHIEF CLERK

1

SIR J COLES

1

MR HUM

1

MR LOGAN

1

[COYSH]