§ Mr. Monroasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the Embassy in Peking delayed issuing visas to the Chinese basketball team for four days, causing disruption of tour arrangements in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. LuardOur embassy in Peking did not delay issuing visas for four days. Visas were issued on 5th November12W before the departure time originally notified. However, there seems to have been a change of flight plan to an early flight on that day and it was not possible to issue visas in time for that. Travel arrangements after the issue of the visas on 5th November were a matter for the Chinese. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office nevertheless regrets any inconvenience caused to the British organisers and to the Chinese team.