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CONFIDENTIAL
DEPARTMENTAL CIRCULAR
SPECIAL CYPHER LINK BETWEEN THE
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
AND THE BRITISH TRADE COMMISSIONER,
HONG KONG
20
Telegrams to the British Trade Commissioner, Hong Kong, are normally sent through the Governor's Office. But from time to time it is necessary to send the Trade Commissioner confidential guidance on British actions and policy. Occasionally also British officials visiting Hong Kong have a need to exchange messages privately with their Departments in London.
2. To meet these requirements a separate telegram series has been established between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Trade Commissioner. The Governor's Office will not have access to this traffic. This channel should be used only when circumstances make it essential. Other traffic should continue to be sent in the normal series through the Governor's Office.
3. Originators wishing to make use of this facility should follow the instructions set out below.
Telegram Series
4. This series of telegrams will be identified by the prefix CHRISTIAN.
5. It will be the responsibility of the originator of a CHRISTIAN telegram whether in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office or the office of the British Trade Commissioner, Hong Kong, to insert this prefix on the draft telegram before sending it for despatch.
Outward Telegrams from F.C.0.
6.
The blue draft of an outward CHRISTIAN telegram should be sent to:-
7.
Head of Shift,
Signal Office, Room 8,
F.C.O.
Downing Street West.
The draft should indicate to whom it should be returned after despatch.
Despatch of Telegrams by British Officials Visiting Hong Kong
8. British officials visiting Hong Kong who need to use this link should pass their telegrams by safe hand to the British Trade Commissioner (Shell House, Queens Road Central. Hong Kong) who will arrange despatch. These telegrams shoulâ bear the prefix CHRISTIAN and be marked for the attention of. a named officer in the United Kingdom Department concerned.
CONFIDENTIAL
/General....