37A
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 583
OF 16023OZ FEBRUARY 90
(97)
151016
MDHIAN 7260
TOE
MCD340/4
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
1.1 APR 1990
DESK OFFICER
REGISTRY
LANDEX:
PAL
PERSONAL FOR PAUL HKD FROM GOVERNOR
923)
YOUR TELNO 345: ASSURANCES FOR EX COLONIAL SECRETA
Action Taken
FEICERS
1. THE COMMUNITY WELFARE PROJECTS FOUNDATION HAS WRITTEN TO ME IN SIMILAR TERMS. WE HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY HEARD OF THIS ORGANISATION. MY PRIVATE SECRETARY HAS REPLIED ON MY BEHALF INVITING THE INDIVIDUALS CONCERNED TO PROVIDE DETAILS OF THEIR CASES FOR US TO CONSIDER: WE HAVE SO FAR RECEIVED NO RESPONSE.
2. THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT THAT SUCH A GROUP OF STAFF EXISTED IN 1967 AND THAT THEY PERFORMED THE ROLE STATED IN MS POON'S LETTER. BUT WE HAVE NO RECORD OF THEIR IDENTITIES. LOOKING AT THEIR CASE ON THE BASIS OF THE GROUP SUBMISSION RECEIVED SO FAR, IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT ANY OF THEM COULD BE INCLUDED IN
THE PROPOSED BRITISH NATIONALITY SCHEME. THE ONLY EXCEPTION WOULD BE THOSE WHO COULD SHOW CONVINCINGLY THAT THEY HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED AND THREATENED (PARA 4 OF TUR).
3. SO FAR AS WE CAN TELL THOSE CONCERNED WERE WORKING ANONYMOUSLY WITHIN THE SECRETARIAT. MANY OTHER CIVIL SERVANTS, NOTABLY IN THE DISCIPLINED SERVICES, WERE INVOLVED OPENLY IN THE CAUSE OF THE CROWN AND CAME INTO DIRECT CONTACT WITH LEFT-WING RIOTERS.
Redacted under FOI exemption section 27(1)