LAST APER
HKK 02013
RECEIVTOM
-
4 AUG 1980
SECRETX
XR
PA
Action Taken
GPS 230
SECRET
FM HONG KONG 230943Z JUL 83
TO PRIORITY FCQ
TELEGRAM NUMBER 929 OF 23 JULY
INFO FRIORITY WASHINGTON MOSCOW
TWO LOCAL NEWSPAPERS HAVE GOT WIND OF A CASE OF A SOVIET MERCHANT SEAMAN, GORBACHENKO, REPORTED IN PARA 21 OF OUR LIC REPORT FOR MAY 1980(NOT TO MOSCOW AND WASHINGTON). GORBACHENKO STOWED AWAY ON A SOVIET CONTAINER SHIP, SLIPPED ASHORE IN HONG KONG ON 21 MAY AND WENT DIRECTLY TO THE AMERICAN CONSULATE-GENERAL SEEKING PERMISSION TO ENTER THE USA. WHILE THE AMERICANS WERE CONSIDERING HIS CASE, HE WAS DETAINED BY IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT FOR ENQUIRIES AS HE HAD NO PROPER DOCUMENTS.
2. THE AMERICANS FINALLY AGREED TO GRANT HIM ''PAROLED ENTRY'' AND HE WAS RELEASED FROM DETENTION FOR IMMEDIATE TRAVEL TO THE USA
ON 7 JULY 1980.
3. IN ANSWER TO QUESTIONS FROM THE PRESS THE AMERICANS ARE SAYING THAT A SOVIET CITIZEN DID APPLY FOR ENTRY INTO THE USA. HE WAS GRANTED PAROLED ENTRY, A STATUS NORMALLY GIVEN TO REFUGEES. FOR OUR PART WE SHALL SAY ONLY THAT THE CITIZEN WAS DETAINED UNDER THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE WHILE ENQUIRIES WERE BEING MADE. WE SHALL BOTH DECLINE TO COMMENT FURTHER.
4. OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT GORBACHENKO WAS OF NO SPECIAL INTELLIGENCE OR OTHER INTEREST TO THE AMERICANS BUT WAS SOMEONE WHO WAS ATTRACTED TO THEIR WAY OF LIFE AND SEIZED THE OPPORTUNITY WHEN
IT AROSE.
CATER
FILES HK v GD
EESD
LAST PAPER
THIS TELEGRAM
WAS NOT ADVANCED
NAD
PUSD
OID
NEWS: D
SIRE YOUDE MR FERGUSSON
SECRET