...
Mr Snodgrass
HICK 243/1
нек
INDE
2 5 OCT 1979
Mio i Awashe
мо
cc Mr Cortazzi
Mr Figg
HKGD
2%
SAD
MVD NTD
MR WOODFIELD'S VISIT TO AUSTRALIA
༢.
7793 A
184
Mr Quantan
I minuted to you about this on 16 October. I now attach a further letter from Mr Woodfield which I have discussed on the telephone with him.
2.
I have told Mr Woodfield that I think it essential for the High Commission in Canberra to be associated with all of the discussions with Mr Engledow, the Secretary of the Department of Immigration. Mr Woodfield agrees and thinks it equally important for him to brief the High Commission in confidence at an early stage. However, he thinks it best to do this orally on arrival rather than through preparing briefs beforehand. One major reason is that Mr Engledow tends to discuss matters in very 'broad brush' terms, ranging over a much wider spectrum of Home Office activity than simply refugee and immigration matters, interspersed with detailed questions on specific items. Having participated with Mr Woodfield in such talks in London and Geneva, I agree with him.
3.
Mr Woodfield will send to you this afternoon the draft of a telegram to Canberra on the above lines which, in my absence, you should despatch before close of play. It might reassure Canberra if you could add some such phrase as "Woodfield has discussed his Australia programme with Murray".
4. (For SAD) I have despatched Mr Woodfield's draft telegram to Colombo.
5. (HKGD only) Mr Woodfield's telegram to Canberra will include advice that, after a certain date, all queries should be directed at him in Hong Kong.
19 October 1979
D F Murray