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GR 200
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 170900Z
FM HONG KONG 170832Z FEB 82
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
1
CONFIDENTIAL
TELEGRAM NUMBER 146 OF 17 FEBRUARY
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
Ho
YOUR TELNO 89: MS VERTUCCI
SINCE
(36
HKK345/2-
RECEIVER PR
No
PA
J23.2
SINCE SITREP IN OUR TELNO 127, MEDIA COVERAGE HAS CONTINUED AND THE STUPPPORT IS BEING ORCHESTRATED. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT VERTUCCI HERSELF
MAY APPEAR ON A TV CURRENT AFFAIRS INTERVIEW PROGRAMME TONIGHT THOUGH, SHE DID NOT DO SO ON A PROGRAMME YESTERDAY FOR WHICH SHE HAD EARLIER BEEN BILLED.
2. IT BEGINS TO LOOK AS IF SHE HAS DECIDED TO MADE A FURTHER APPEAL IN UK, WHICH SHE IS LIKELY TO VISIT FOLLOWING HER VOLUNTARY DEPARTURE ON 19 FEBRUARY.
3. PRESS SPECULATION HAS BEEN GETTING CLOSER TO THE MARK, WHILST VERTUCCI HAS CLAIMED THAT SHE HAS BEEN TOLD QUOTE UNOFFICIALLY, VIA SOURCES IN LONDON UNQUOTE THAT OUR REASONS FOR NOT EXTENDING HER STAY ARE CONNECTED WITH HER INVOLVEMENT WITH POTENTIAL TROUBLE
MAKERS. GRATEFUL TO KNOW WHAT STATEMENTS IF ANY HAVE IN FACT BEEN MADE IN LONDON, AND WHAT PRESS LINE YOU EXPECT TO TAKE OVER PARRY'S MEETING WITH LPS.
4. GASSERT OF AMRC SOUGHT BY TELEPHONE ON 13 FEBRUARY AN INTERVIEW
WITH GOVERNOR FOR HER BUT WAS TOLD BY PRIVATE SECRETARY THAT NO
PURPOSE WOULD BE SERVED BY SUCH AN INTERVIEW, NOR WOULD IT BE PROPER.
5. THE CHIEF SECRETARY HAS RECEIVED TWO FURTHER LETTERS FROM VERTUCCI. ONE REPEATED HER REQUEST TO BE GIVEN GOVER NOR IN COUNCIL'S
REASONS FOR THE DECISION, AND WE ARE REPLYING WITH STANDARD REFUSAL THE SECOND ASKS WHETHER SHE WOULD BE ALLOWED ENTRY AS A TOURIST OR FOR EMPLOYMENT IN THE FUTURE. (TEXTS AND OUR REPLIES IN MIFT).
6. HER STAY EXPIRES AT 191608Z WHICH IS AFTER THE PROPOSED MEETING
BETWEEN PARRY AND LPS AT 1817152. GRATEFUL FOR AN ACCOUNT OF PARRY'S CALL ON LPS, LINE TAKEN BY LPS AND ANY PRESS STATEMENTS DESKBY
190130Z.
MACLEHOSE
LIMITED
HK&GD
NEWS D
MVD
SEAD
PUSD
NAD
PS/LPS
PS/PUS
MR DONALD MR URE
COPIES TO:-
HKGO
LONDON
CONFIDENTIAL
NO. 51
see (45
(48