CONFIDENTIAL
tice
66
F
Mr Gardner (Migration and Visa Dept C1 634)
VISAS FOR HONG KONG PALFORT HOLDERS
1. I attach a copy of Hong Kong telegram No 796, together with a copy of a minute on it by hiss Kelly of this department, who is at present on leave. We showed the telegram and the minute to ir Kurray LacLehose when he was in the office at the end of last week. Ile asked us to reply ourselves to Hong Kong.
2.
I wonder if you would feel able to draft such a reply, since the problems are I think primarily the concern of Higration and Visa Department, and whether such a draft could expand on any of the points covered in Miss Kelly's minute. This minute seems to leave a number of questions unanswered. For example, what can we say in reply to the latter part of paragraph 3 of the telegram, and especially to paragraph 4? Although the latter is indeed a large question, I think we shall have to say something either now or in a separate later telegram, since the unofficial members of Legislative Council and Executive Council are not likely to let the matter drop; indeed I should expect them to raise it with ir Royle when he visits Hong Kong in November.
12 September 1972
RB Crowson Hong Kong and Indian Ocean Dept
RECEVAD IN
REGISTRY Na. 01
13 SEP 1972
HKK3/548/10
CONFIDENTIAL