GAS 678
CYPHER CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
PKK 243/332
RECEIVED
PRIORITY
FM HANOI 0807472
DESK
CONFIDENTIAL
INDEX
TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 173 CF 8 SEPTEMBER
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG (GOVERNOR)
9 SEP 1977
201
NO. 51
REGISTRY Action Taken
GOVERNOR HONG KONG'S LETTER OF 29 AUGUST TO SIMONS SEAD
MAIDEEN
1.
RIR poe
1 SIGNED DESPATCH ON THIS DURING MY VISIT TO HONG KONG
I HAVE NO COPY. IN JULY FOR TRANSMISSION TO YOU FROM THERE.
DID YOU RECEIVE IT?
IF SO PLEASE COPY IT
TO ME. IF NOT COULD POLITICAL ADVISER HONG KONG PLEASE TRACE AND TRANSMIT IT TO YOU URGENTLY.
I AM GRATEFUL FOR GOVERNORS SUPPORT.
MEANWHILE TIME DRAGS ON AND NO PROGRESS IS MADE
+
ABOUT
LAST
(SEE ALSO MY TELNO 172 - NOT TO HONG KONG SAIGON STAFF). RATE OF FLIGHTS HAS SLOWED WAS 31 AUGUST. NEXT IS HOPEFULLY FOR 23 SEPTEMBER.
BUT VIETNAMESE HAVE FAILED TO GIVE CLEARANCE OR LISTS FOR ANY FLIGHT SINCE THE LAST ONE AND HAVE GONE SILENT. THERE ARE ABOUT 800 PEOPLE IN THE QUEUE ALREADY.
MY WIFE AS HONORARY CONSUL WILL SUPERVISE FLIGHT ON 23 SEPTEMBER (IF IT HAPPENS). SHE WILL HAVE TO RENEW MAIDEENS PASSPORT FOR THE FINAL THREE MONTHS YOU ALLOW AND DISCUSS HIS PLANS AND TACTICS FOR LEAVING. IF HE PRESENTS HIS PASSPORT FOR A 'TEMPORARY EXIT PERMIT WITH A THREE MONTH EXTENSION TO CHRISTMAS THE VIETNAMESE MAY WELL QUESTION BOTH HIS NATIONALITY AND HIS DEPARTURE IF THEY SO WISH (AS THEY WELL MIGHT).
IF HE ASKED TO LEAVE FOR GOOD SAME PROBLEM COULD ARISE.
*
4. I HOPE QUESTION OF UK NATIONALITY CAN BE SETTLED VERY URGENTLY. IF IT WERE AGREED IN PRINCIPLE WE COULD SURELY EXTEND THIS LONG TECHNICAL ILLEGALITY BY ANTICIPATING FORMAL APPROVAL AND ISSUING NORMAL PASSPORT. IF NOT, WE COULD EXTEND ILLEGALITY IN A DIFFERENT WAY BY ISSUING NORMAL BUT WHOLLY ILLEGAL ·PASSPORT ON SAME UNDERTAKING BY MAIDEEN TO RETURN
IT ON LEAVING.
115
1/%
CONFIDENTIAL
15. MAIDEEN