GR 525 PRIORITY
CYPHER/CAT A
F.C.0.` 221115Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No. 51
(HK)
26 FEB 1974
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TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TELNO. 209 OF 22 FEBRUARY.
FOLLOWING FROM HONG KONG COMMISSIONER: YOUR TELNO. 78 OF 20 FEB 74.
DUE TO SUDDEN ILLNESS OF CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT EDWARDS, COMMANDER ANNING WILL NOW BE ACCOMPANIED BY CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT LA GILLERT. AS I HAVE CONFIRMED FROM THE F C O THAT BOTH OFFICERS ARE AUTOMATICALLY ELIGIBLE BY THEIR RANK FOR FIRST CLASS AIR TRAVEL, REGARDLESS OF HONG KONG'S OWN MORE RESTRICTIVE REGULATIONS, I AM GOING AHEAD WITH FIRST CLASS BOOKINGS. THE FCO AGREES WITH ME THAT
ANY LESS GENEROUS ARRANGEMENT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE.
2. COMMANDER ANNING HAS ASKED TO BE BOOKED ON BA880 TO BANGKOK ON
12TH APRIL AND ON BA 880 FROM BANGKOK TO HONG KONG ON
15TH APRIL. I HAVE ALREADY MADE THESE PROVISIONAL BOOKINGS, BUT WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR CLARIFICATION WHETHER YOU WOULD AGREE TO PAY
COST OF TWO NIGHTS IN BANGKOK. ANNING IS VERY ANXIOUS TO ARRIVE FRESH IN HONG KONG AND THIS SEEMS THE ONLY FEASIBLE METHOD OF BREAKING THE FLIGHT. IF NOT ACCEPTABLE TO YOU I WILL EXPLAIN TO
ANNING AND LEAVE HIM TO DECIDE WHETHER HE WISHES TO TRAVEL STRAIGHT
TO HONG KONG OR STOP OVER AT HIS OWN EXPENSE.
3. ON YOUR PARA. 3 ANNING ACCEPTS HONG KONG HOTEL ON THE
UNDERSTANDING THAT A SUITE MEANS 2 COMFORTABLE BEDROOMS
PLUS A SEPARATE SITTINGROOM.
I
4. AS REGARDS SUBSISTENCE, NOTE WHAT YOU SAY, BUT YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT IF THE ACTUAL COSTS PERMISSIBLE
UNDER METROPOLITAN POLICE REGULATIONS EXCEED DOLLARS
140 PER DIEM, YOU WILL STILL BE BILLED IN ARREARS BY THE METROPOLITAN POLICE. INTHE CIRCUMSTANCES YOU MAY PREFER TO LEAVE BOTH OFFICERS TO PAY THEIR OWN BILLS, INCLUDING THE COST OF THE HOTEL, WHILST IN HONG KONG AND RECEIVE A CONSOLIDATED BILL AFTER THEIR RETURN TO LONDON.
5. AS REGARDS YOUR PARA. 5, I HAVE DISCUSSED THE QUESTION OF A PRESS STATEMENT WITH BOXALL, WHO HAS IN TURN DISCUSSED IT WITH BOTH COMMANDER ANNING AND MR. WRIGHT, HEAD OF NEWS
to air tout,
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IN SCOTLAND YARD'S PRESS BUREAU, AND ALL ARE AGREED THAT WHAT IS
CONFIDENTIAL
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