Cypher/Cat A
CONFIDENTIAL
cor
PRITY SEOUL TO FOREIGN OFFICE
Telno 38
CONFIDENTIAL
21 March, 1967.
Addressed to Foreign Office tele gram No. 38 of 21 March Repeated for information to:- Saigon, Hong Kong, Manila,
Washington and POLAD Singapore.
Your telegram No. 55:
R. and R. in Hong Kong.
Head of Chancery spoke today as instructed to Mr. Toon, Director of European and American Bureau in Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
2. Mr. Yoon appreciated our difficulties in Hong Kong and readily understood reference to Macao. At the same time he deprecated any discrimination against Korean forces and enquired why R.O.K. troops could not be included in American quota. Head of Chancery explained that there was no quota as such.
Yoon then asked if use of Colony by United States forces was to be restricted in any way to which Head of Chancery replied that Americans had been using territory for Some considerable time and the Chinese appeared to have accepted the position. Korean soldiers however would be bound to attract attention since they could hardly pass off as American
(grp
3. Although Yoon's general attitude was friendly he seemed pained that R.0.K. troops, whom the Koreans consider to be fighting our war against grp omitted] s, should not be welcome in a British territory. Although he personally appeared to accept our decision it is possible that Korean Government may revert to it later.
4. United States Counsellor Ericson spoke to Yoon on the same lines soon afterwards and explained that United States Govern- ment sympathised with and supports the British position on this matter. Yoon again said that he hoped no Korean soldiers would be turned back which Ericson countered by asking that Ministry of Defence should be put in the picture as soon as possible. He undertook to request American authorities in Saigon to ensure that R.0.K. forces were not included in any R. and R. visits to Hong Kong conducted under American auspices.
Foreign Office please pass Priority to Saigon 5, Hong Kong 11, and routine Manila 6, Washington 10 and POLAD Singapore 3.
Mr. Mackenzie
[Repeated as requested]
Sent 0322 22 March, 1967 Recd 0945Z 22 March, 1967
LAST
REF.
NEXT
REF.
C.O. F.E.P.D.
D.T.D.
71 973)
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.O. F.E.D.
S.E.A.D.
SENT TO HONG KONG AS COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (D.T.D.) TELEGRAM
NO
172
CONFIDENTIAL