CONFIDENTIAL
234
065376
MDLIAN 1951
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELNO 4570
OF 14090OZ DECEMBER 88
30-YEAR RULE
HKD 243/5
TOP COPY Ω
OMY Q DIST ?
AN AMERICAN ACADEMIC, DR ALLEN WHITING, HAS APPROACHED US FOR ASSISTANCE WITH A BOOK HE IS WRITING ON THE 1967 DISTURBANCES. HE
HAS ASKED FOR ACCESS TO THE GOVERNMENT FILES FOR THAT YEAR. HE HAS
FURTHER SAID THAT HE IS CONTENT TO UNDERTAKE NOT TO USE ANY OF THE MATERIAL UNTIL AFTER THE 30 YEAR PERIOD HAD PASSED.
2. GRATEFUL IF LIBRARY AND RECORDS COULD LET UK KNOW IF THERE IS EVER ANY ARRANGEMENT (BAR THAT FOR THE OFFICIAL HISTORIAN) FOR
ACCESS TO FILES BEFORE THE 30-YEAR PERIOD HAS EXPIRED, FOR USE ONLY AFTER THE TIME HAS PASSED.
3 DR WHITING'S APPROACH HAS ALSO REMINDED US THAT THE RECORDS COVERING THE 1967 DISTURBANCES ARE DUE TO BECOME AVAILABLE ON 1 JANUARY 1998. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE TIME. SOME CAREFUL REVIEWING WILL BE NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE WE DO NOT RELEASE RECORDS WHICH ARE DAMAGING TO INDIVIDUALS.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
15
MINIMAL
HKD
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
15
LRD
PAGE
1
CONFIDENTIAL