GR 250
RESTRICTED
Res 15
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FM HONG KONG 190940Z JUL 82
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 773 OF 19 JULY
PA
CSE
22/7
INFO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
ENTRY OF FALKLAND ISLANDERS INTO UK
R+ Bu 2days.
63
MVD will clear with us.
69€
M
R.clesh with
MND + {Amda
19/2
The
See (64
WE ARE UNDER PRESSURE FROM LOCAL JOURNALISTS TO COMMENT ON (A) AN
UNDERTAKING REPORTEDLY GIVEN BY THE HOME SECRETARY IN RESPECT
OF THE 400 FALKLAND ISLANDERS WHO WILL BECOME BDTC'S UNDER THE
BNA, TO THE EFFECT THAT THEY WILL HAVE NO DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING PERMISSION TO ENTER THE UK, AND (B) WHY ONE GROUP OF BDTC'S SHOULD
BE GIVEN PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT VIS-A-VIS OTHER SUCH GROUPS.
2. IN REPLY WE HAVE SAID THAT WE CANNOT COMMENT ON UNCONFIRMED
REPORTS, BUT THAT WE ARE SEEKING CLARIFICATION. AS YOU WILL KNOW, FROM FOR EXAMPLE SCMP OF 15 JULY, THE QUESTION OF THE BNA AND RELATED MATTERS CONTINUES TO COMMAND MEDIA ATTENTION HERE. THE LOCAL
PRESS ENQUIRY MAY DERIVE FROM RECENT REPORTS IN UK NEWSPAPERS, E.G. THE TIMES OF 9 AND 10 JULY, RATHER THAN EARLIER STATEMENTS,
E.G. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS OF 8 APRIL 1982 (TELNO RETRACT 71).
3. GRATEFUL TO HAVE BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE REPORTED UNDERTAKING AND IN PARTICULAR ANYTHING WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN SAID ABOUT RIGHTS OF ENTRY FOR SETTLEMENT OVER AND ABOVE WHAT THE HOME
SECRETARY SAID ON 8 APRIL.
YOUDE
MINIMAL
MVD SAM D HK & GD
[THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED]
RESTRICTED
HKK340/1
RECEIVES
: AF22/7