18
OCMIAN 7150
CONFIDENTIAL
DD 21020OZ KATHM
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
20184OZ FEB
GRS 531
23
TOP COPY
CONFIDENTIAL
17150 - 1
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 210100Z HONG KONG
TELNO 346
OF 201840 FEBRUARY 86
INFO DESKBY 210200Z KATHMANDU
HRR 027/8
21 FEB 1986
"aken
AB 24
KATHMANDU FOR PRIVATE SECRETARY
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM GALSWORTHY
HONG KONG TELNOS 001 TO KATHMANDU, 546 AND 548 TO FCO AND KATHMANDU TELNO 116: ROBERT ADLEY
1.
(14)
ASSISTANT PRIVATE SECRETARY SPOKE THIS AFTERNOON TO
MR ADLEY, WHO SOMEWHAT RELUCTANTLY REVEALED THE NAME OF HIS CONTACT WITH BRITISH AIRWAYS (A MR LORNIE). MR ADLEY ADDED THAT BRITISH AIRWAYS HAD SINCE SENT HIM 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. MR ADLEY AGAIN CLAIMED THAT BRITISH AIRWAYS HAD SAID
EXPLICITLY THAT THEY HAD BEEN TOLD BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT THAT HIS PRESENCE WOULD CREATE DIFFICULTIES AND TURN THE
CELEBRATORY FLIGHT INTO SOMETHING OF AN EMBARRASSMENT.
2.
HE THEN SPECULATED ABOUT HOW THE PRESS HAD KNOWN SO MUCH ABOUT HIS INTENDED VISIT TO HONG KONG, ALLEGING THAT ONLY OFFICIALS IN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT COULD HAVE GIVEN THEM THIS INFORMATION, AND THAT ONLY THEY COULD HAVE EXPRESSED THE THOUGHT THAT MR ADLEY'S PRESENCE ON THE FLIGHT WOULD CAUSE DIFFICULTIES.
3. GAL SWORTHY HAS SINCE SPOKEN TO LORNIE AT BRITISH AIRWAYS.
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