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CYPHER/CAT A
FRITY BANGKOK TO FOREIGN OFFICE
Telno 280
25 May 1967
154
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Addressed to Foreign Orfice telegram No.280 of 25 May. Repeated for information to Hong Kong and Canberra.
On instructions received from Canberra on 22 May the Australian Commercial Counsellor and Consul here are telling businessmen and tourists who ask that it is unwise to go to Hong Kong.
2. This is the reverse of what we are telling our people and such Thais as enquire namely that we see no reason why plans made to visit Hong Kong should be altered. The Canadians. Indians and New Zealanders are adopting much the same line as ourselves. 3. Not only does it look odd in a matter like this to have Commonwealth Missions in the same capital putting out conflicting advice, I should also have thought the Australian attitude wrong in that it encourages those who want to make the situation
On the face of it Hong Kong sound worse than it really is. Canberra's attitude aoes not square either with the situation in Hong Kong as reported in the London and Bangkok Press and in J.1.C. telegrams from London, or with the forecast in Guidance 106, that the Hong Kong authorities should be able to keep the situation under control.
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4. You may care to consider whether anything can or should be said in Canberra or London to produce a more united front. Meanwhile we shall do what we can in conversation with our Australian colleagues to mitigate the effect of their instructions. F.O. pass Hong Kong 51 and Canberra 14.
Sir A. Rumbold
Sent 1000Z 25 May
[Repeated as requested] Recd. 15172 25 May
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.0.
F.E.D.
S.E.A.D.
D.D. & P.U.S.D.
Consular Dept.
News Dept.
C.0.
F.E.P.D.
D.T.D.
LECEIVED IN ARCHIVE
30MAI 176
168
HWALLD
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SENT TO HONG KONG AS COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (D.T.D.) TELEGRAM
NO. 1058
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