CONFIDENTIAL
CYPHER/CAT 'A'
ROUTINE WASHINGTON TO FOREIGN OFFICE
TELEGRAM NUMBER 606
DATED 28TH FEBRUARY 1967.
45.
VED VES!
нию
HULAY/1
(29)
CONFIDENTIAL
ADDRESSED TO FOREIGN OFFICE TELEGRAM NUMBER 606 DATED 28 REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG, MANILA, SEOUL, POLAD SINGAPORE AND SAIGON.
MY TELEGRAM NO: 341
REST AND RECREATION IN HONG KONG.
FEBRUARY
STATE DEPARTMENT HAVE TOLD US THAT AFTER CAREFUL EXAMINATION THEY FEAR THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO USE ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES TO EXCLUDE FILIPINOS AND SOUTH KOREANS FROM R. AND R. VISITS TO HONG KONG. IT APPEARS THAT BOTH COUNTRIES HAVE APPLIED FOR PLACES ON THE AMERICAN FLIGHTS TO HONG KONG AND INDEFINITE DELAY IN GRANTING THE PLACES REQUESTED WOULD BE BOUND TO GIVE THE
GAME AWAY.
2
THE AMERICANS ARE, HOWEVER, PREPARED TO JOIN US IN EXPLAINING THE SITUATION TO BOTH GOVERNMENTS, AND PROPOSE THAT OUR RESPECTIVE EMBASSIES IN MANILA AND SEOUL CONCERT ACTION. THEY SUGGESTED THAT OUR EXPLANATION SHOULD BE BASED ON THE SENSITIVITY OF HONG KONG'S POSITION, PARTICULARLY IN THE LIGHT OF DISTURBED CONDITIONS IN CHINA AT PRESENT SEMICLN AND THE FACT THAT IF FILIPINO AND KOREAN SERVICEMEN BEGAN TO ARRIVE IN THE COLONY THIS WOULD AT ONCE DRAW ATTENTION TO THE INCREASE IN THE R. AND R. PROGRAMME WHICH HAS GRADUALLY BEEN TAKING PLACE. REFERENCE COULD BE MADE TO RECENT EVENTS IN MACAO. WE SAID THAT IT WOULD ALSO BE NECESSARY TO POINT OUT THAT THE UNITED STATES OFFICIALS WHO ARE SAID TO HAVE GIVEN ASSURANCES ABOUT KOREAN AND PHILIPPINE PARTICIPATION IN ALL AMERICAN R. AND R. PROGRAMMES FROM VIETNAM HAD HAD NO RIGHT TO ENTER INTO UNDERTAKINGS ON BEHALF OF TERRITORY BELONGING TO ANOTHER GOVERNMENT. THE STATE DEPARTMENT AGREED.
3.
IN SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSION THEY CONCEDED THAT THERE WAS NO REASON WHATSOEVER FOR THE FILIPINOS TO VISIT HONG KONG ON R. AND R. TRIPS,
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SENT TO HONG KONG AS COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (D.T.D.) TELEGRAM
NO. 418
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