CONFIDENTIAL
CO HONG KONG (DESKBY 110100Z)
GRS 228
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKEY 110100Z
FM FCO 101635Z JUN 82
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 433 OF 10 JUNE.
INFO ROUTINE MODUK (DS5, DS11).
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Geno ixlo
FOR GOVERNOR AND POLITICAL ADVISER FROM CLIFT
TELECON MCLAREN/MORRIS: HONG KONG CASUALITIES IN FALKLANDS
1. WE HAVE STRESSED TO MOD THE IMPORTANCE OF MAXIMUM SPEED IN
INFORMING NEXT OF KIN. THEY FULLY APPRECIATE THIS. THE CHANNEL
USED IN THE CASE OF PERSONNEL ON ROYAL FLEET AUXILIARIES IS FROM
THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF STORES AND TRANSPORT (NAVY) IN THE MOD
TO THE STORES AND TRANSPORT OFFICER (NAVY) IN HONG KONG. AS FIRM
INFORMATION ON CASUALITIES HAS COME IN THE LATTER HAS BEEN
INFORMED AND INSTRUCTED TO TELL NEXT OF KIN.
2.
THE PRESENT CASUALTY LIST OF HONG KONG CHINESE IS NOT AS BAD
AS AT FIRST FEARED. IT IS:
SIR TRISTRAM: 2 MISSING PRESUMED DEAD
SIR GALAHAD: 9 INJURED AND 2 STILL UNACCOUNTED FOR (THERE ARE THUS 50 KNOWN SURVIVORS OUT OF THE 52 HONG KONG CHINESE CREW MEMBERS OF SIR GALAHAD).
WE
3. NO PUBLIC STATEMENT HAS YET BEEN MADE ON CASUALTIES. THIS
WILL AWAIT CONFIRMATION THAT NEXT OF KIN HAVE BEEN INFORMED.
HAVE ASKED MOD TO ENSURE THAT HQBF PUBLIC RELATIONS ARE INFORMED
IN ADVANCE OF ANY STATEMENT.
4. I AM SURE THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO BREAKDOWN IN THE SYSTEM OF INFORMING NEXT OF KIN. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN THAT THE NATURE OF THE ACTION HAS MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO ESTABLISH THE TYPE AND NUMBER OF CASUALTIES QUICKLY.
See
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EMERGENCY UNIT
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PS/LORD BELSTEAD
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MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD
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CONFIDENTIAL
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