SECRET AND PERSONAL
Confidennand
Mr Galsworthy, Hong Kong Department
cc: fr wilsa.
Mr Robert Adley MP
I spoke this afternoon to Mr Adley, stressing that the Secretary of State had been consulted in Kathmandu (Kathmandu telno 116) and was keen to look into this matter. Mr Adley confirmed that British Airways in London had asked him not to go on the flight to Hong Kong; British Airways had said explicitly that they had been told by the Hong Kong Government that Mr Adley's presence would create difficulties and turn the celebratory flight into something of an embarrassment. British Airways in London had subsequently sent to Mr Adley a press cutting from the South China Morning Post of 2 February which made clear that Hong Kong official sources were responsible for British Airways' negative attitude.
I pressed Mr Adley to give us the name of his contact in British Airways in London, so that we could look into the matter promptly and efficiently. With some reluctance he gave the name as Mr Norman Lornie, a lowish-level official who had been responsible for making his arrangements.
Mr Adley stressed that Mr Lornie had been embarrassed at the message which he had to deliver, and should not be held responsible for its contents.
Mr Adley said that British Airways had subsequently offered him a free first-class ticket to Kuala Lumpur, which showed how sorry they were about this episode.
Mr Adley then launched into some elaborate speculation about how the press had known so early about his intended visit to Hong Kong. Only officials in the Hong Kong Government could have given them this information. And who else could have expressed the thought that Mr Adley's presence on the flight would cause difficulties? I expressed no view on all this, except to say that we would look into the matter urgently, at the Secretary of State's specific behest, both here and in Hong Kong.
Mr Adley said that he would be leaving for Kuala Lumpur on Sunday 23 February and returning on Friday 28 February.
We have since spoken by telephone and you agreed to have a word with Mr Lornie. Thereafter we can consider how much of the above should be telegraphed to Kathmandu.
(R N Culshaw)
20 February 1986
cc:
PS/Mr Renton Sir W Harding
Confidential.
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SECRET AND PERSONAL