Our reference: NTY/265/330/2 Your reference: 040/548/1
J Thompson Esq
K 245
HOME OFFICE
Apollo House, Wellesley Road, CROYDON, CR0 9YA
Telephone: 01-686 2575, ext. 4762
Hong Kong & General Department Foreign & Commonwealth Office LONDON SW1
5 January 1978
в накоченн
-0.JAN1978
3
Dear Thompson.
(5071)
DESK OFFICER INDEX
No
PA
d
Thank you for your letter 6f 5 December enclosing a copy of a memorandum from Mr Boxall in the Hong Kong Office about Mr Kennett's telephone conversation with a member of Immigration and Nationality Department.
I am very concerned indeed to learn that Mr Kennett was given this entirely erroneous piece of information (and given it quite gratuitously so far as one can see) and I can well understand the concern expressed by Mr Boxall on behalf of the Government of Hong Kong. I am afraid that we have been unable to identify the offending officer, and indeed we cannot be certain that the person concerned was a member of the Nationality Division. There are two separate telephone enquiry points in the Department, one for Immigration matters and one dealing with nationality questions. We have enquired extensively on both sides of the house, but to no avail.
We are issuing instructions to all our staff warning them that on no account must the future of Hong Kong be discussed or commented on when dealing with members of the public. I hope this warning will be
but if there is further trouble of this kind please let
effective, me know.
Yours
ours Sincerely
все
W M LEE