CONFIDENTIAL
By Enter
30/0
PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT A
KOND N
BURY 110. 51
30 JUN 1977
FN HANOI 2013202 K213/3321
CONFIDENTIAL
TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 139 OF 28 JUNE
INFO HONG KONG (FOR GOVERNOR)
FOR MURRAY: YOUR TELNO 100.
LAST
NEXT
REF.
68
1. MANY THANKS. IT SHOULD JUST SERVE. MAIDEEN TOLD LUKE. THAT HE THOUGHT HE WANTED TO LEAVE WITH HONOUR' AND WISHED TO BE IN EUROPE BY XMAS.
2. I DO NOT EXPECT IT TO BE EASY TO PERSUADE SRV TO ACCEPT HONG KONG OFFICIALS IN SAIGON (PARA 18 OF MY REPORT OF 16 JUNE). BEST THING I CAN DEVISE IS FOR MISS LUKE TO TELL CONSULAR DEPT HERE THAT PROPOSED FLIGHT PROGRAMME WILL IMPOSSIBLY OVERBURDEN MAIDEEN: THAT IDEAL SOLUTION WOULD BE TEMPORARY POSTING OF ONE, OR EVEN TWO HONG KONG OFFICIALS IN SAIGON UNTIL OPERATION IS OVER (THOUGH THEY WOULD HAVE NO OFFICIAL POSITION). THAT ALTERNATIVELY (A3 FALLBACK) HONG KONG OFFICIALS SHOULD SPEND TWO, TO THREE WEEKS AT A TIME THERE TO RELIEVE MAIDEEN: A V THAT' WOULD LIKE THEIR VIEW BEFORE I LEAVE FOR HONG KONG FOR CONSULTATIONS, BY WHICH TIME FLIGHTS WOULD BE IN FULL SWING, WILL GOVERNOR
PLEASE CONFIRM OR COMMENT IMMEDIATE' PLEASE.
?
3. YOUR TELNO 191 (NOT TO HONG KONG), LAST TWO SENTENCES
OF PARA 1: SEE PARA 4 OF MY LETTER OF 16 JUNE, BUT I WAS
WARNED BY PREVIOUS INDIAN AMBASSADOR THAT AN INDIAN WHO TRIED
TO CLAIM TWO NATIONALITIES WOULD LOSE HIS OWN.
INDIAN OFFICIALDOM MIGHT FEEL OBLIGED TO ACT SINCE HE HAS
ACTUALLY ASSERTED UK CITIZENSHIP (PARA 20 OF MY REPORT).
CONFIDENTIAL
14.
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