RESTRICTED
FM MASERU
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO MISC 30
OF 221315Z APRIL 92
INFO IMMEDIATE FCO
RESTRICTED
HKD 341/3
LESOTHO PASSPORTS COMMISSION
G
1.
-
1097
Re Romis.
24
120646
MDHIAN 1153
TOP COPY Q DIST?
VISIT TO HONG KONG
PP.
524/4
MFA RANG DHC TODAY TO SAY THAT THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE PASSPORTS SCANDAL WISHED TO VISIT HONG KONG FROM 1
- 8 MAY TO PURSUE THEIR ENQUIRIES. THEY WOULD HOPE TO SEE BOTH OFFICIALS OF THE HONG KONG IMMIGRATION SERVICE AND OTHERS, SUCH AS THE FORMER LESOTHO HONORARY CONSUL, INVOLVED IN THE MATTER. DHC SAID HE WOULD PASS THAT INFORMATION TO HONG KONG WHO CERTAINLY NEED MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE COMPOSITION OF MISSION, WHO THEY WISHED TO SEE AND THEIR TERMS OF REFERENCE.
2.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY WAS SET UP ON 27 MARCH 1991 TO:
A. INVESTIGATE THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE ISSUE OF LESOTHO INTERNATIONAL PASSPORTS TO VARIOUS PEOPLE WHOSE NAMES AND PASSPORT NUMBERS ARE SPECIFIED IN THE SCHEDULE TO THE REVOCATION OF SPECIFIED CITIZENSHIP AND CANCELLATION OF PASSPORTS ORDER, 1992 (ORDER NO. 3 OF 1992) - THE LIST OF 276 CANCELLED PASSPORTS.
B. IDENTIFY AND ESTABLISH WHETHER ANY MONIES WERE PAID FOR THE ISSUE OF SUCH PASSPORTS. IF ANY PAYMENTS WER IN FACT MADE, THE COMMISSION SHOULD ESTABLISH THE PAYEES AND THEIR RECIPIENTS AND THE QUANTUM THEREOF.
IT CONSISTS OF MR JUSTICE J L KHEOLA, HIGH COURT JUDGE (CHAIRMAN), MR LETJEA QHOBELA AND MR DAVID MOHLOMI RANTEKOA. ITS SECRETARY IS MR ABNER MOSAASE. PRESUMABLY AT LEAST ALL FOUR WISH TO VISIT HONG KONG. PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMISSION WILL BE HELD IN CAMERA AND IT IS ENJOINED TO MAKE A WRITTEN REPORT OF ITS FINDINGS TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MILITARY COUNCIL NO LATER THAN 29 MAY 1992.
MEANWHILE
3. WE WILL PASS ON MORE INFORMATION WHEN WE RECEIVE IT. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR INITIAL RESPONSE ON WHETHER YOU WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE MISSION ON THE DATES MENTIONED. THE MATTER IS STILL A POLITICAL HOT POTATO HERE AND THE MISSION IS UNDER PRESSURE TO BRING IN ITS REPORT QUICKLY.
1
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