CONFIDENT TAL
CYPHER/CAT A
PRIORITY FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TELEGRAM NUMBER 678
TO HONG KONG
7 OCTOBER 1973.(HK VIA PS)
5
CONFIDENTIAL.
071825Z
ADDRESSED TO HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 678 OF 7 OCTOBER REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO TOKYO (FOR WILFORD).
FROM LAIRD.
VISAS FOR FOREIGN TEACHERS AND STUDENTS.
SINCE THIS WAS SUBJECT ON WHICH WE MIGHT EXPECT QUESTIONS HERE
I ASKED IN MY LETTER TO NORMAN-WALKER OF 5 OCTOBER (IN TOMORROW'S BAG) FOR BACKGROUND INFORMATION TO RECENT PRESS REPORTS ABOUT THE REFUSAL OF THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES TO RENEW VISAS OF CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS.
2. JAMES JOHNSON, MP, HAS NOW WRITTEN TO SECRETARY OF STATE SAYING HE HAS HAD PROTESTS FROM HONG KONG ABOUT THE QUOTE EXPULSIONS OF EUROPEANS FOR TAKING PART IN VERY PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST AMERICAN POLICY IN VIETNAM UNQUOTE, AND THAT QUOTE NO REASONS FOR TAKING AWAY THEIR VISAS HAVE BEEN OFFICIALLY GIVEN UNQUOTE. HE MENTIONS IN PARTICULAR CASE OF LARS ELLSTROM, WHO WAS, HE SAYS, DUE TO BE EXPELLED ON 4 OCTOBER AND WHO IS ALLEGED TO BE A QUOTE VERY QUIET UNQUOTE STUDENT. MR. JOHNSON HAS ASKED IF THE MATTER
COULD BE DISCUSSED DURING MR. ROYLE'S FORTHCOMING VISIT.
3. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IN REPLYING TO MR. JOHNSON IF MR. ROYLE COULD TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY PRESENTED BY HIS VISIT OF BECOMING ACQUAINTED WITH FACTS OF SITUATION AT FIRST HAND. GRATEFUL
THEREFORE IF REPORT ON SITUATION COULD BE PREPARED AGAINST HIS
ARRIVAL IN HONG KONG.
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