GK 70
IMMEDIATE
CYPHER CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK ON!!!
RECEIVED IN REGATRY MO. 51 19 JUN 1978
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FM HONG KONG 161000Z
CONFIDENTIAL
TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELNO 742 OF 16 JUNE 1978.
FOR STAGG (HKGD) FROM POLITICAL ADVISER.
See 18
YOUR LETTER OF 7 JUNE: POLISH CONSULAR REPRESENTATION IN HONG KONG.
I HAVE NO BACKGROUND ABOUT AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSULAR CONVENTION WITH POLAND NOR OF COURSE DO I KNOW WHAT IS IN THE PROPOSED CIRCULAR DESPATCH. I AM HOWEVER SERIOUSLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPLICATION THAT WE MAY BE FACED WITH INCREASED RIGHTS FOR PCLISH CONSULAR REPRESENTATIVES AFFECTING HONG KONG. WE WOULD CERTAINLY WISH TO BE CONSULTED BEFORE ANYTHING OF THE SORT HAPPENED.
2. THE INCLUSION OF HONG KONG IN THE AREA COVERED BY THE POLISH CONSUL-GENERAL IN LONDON IS AN UNFORTUNATE ANOMALY. ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS TO DATE BACK MANY YEARS AND WE HAVE NO RECORD OF A VISIT BY THE PRESENT INCUMBENT OR HIS PREDECESSORS, IT LEAVES A POSSIBLE OPENING FOR THE POLES TO COME HERE WHICH I WOULD MUCH RATHER SEE CLOSED. MILTON'S LETTER TO MY PREDECESSOR OF 30 SEPTEMBER 1976, WHICH YOU QUOTE, MADE THESE POINTS VERY WELL, THERE WAS NOTHING IN IT THAT REQUIRED A REPLY. CERTAINLY YOU SHOULD TAKE IT THAT SILENCE FROM THIS END MEANT AGREEMENT WITH ITS CONTENTS RATHER THAN
INDIFFERENCE,
3. COULD YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW URGENTLY WHAT IS PROPOSED UNDER THE
NEW CONVENTION, I WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF THOUGHT COULD ALSO BE GIVEN TO HOW HONG KONG COULD QUIETLY BE WITHDRAWN FORM THE CONSUL- GENERAL'S FIELD OF JURISDICTION. I TRUST THAT NOTHING WILL BE DONE
TO COMMIT HONG KONG BEFORE WE HAVE BEEN CONSULTED.
MACLENOSE
FILE S:
HK & G D
MR CORTAZZI MK HALL
CONFIDENTIAL