Cypher
SECRET
OUTWARD TELEGRAM
FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
TO HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
Sent 19th January 1967. 23.00 hrs.
IMMEDIATE SECRET No.130
RECEIVED IN ARCHI TANɔ. 63 20 Jalee
Addressed to Governor Hong Kong Repeated for information to:Lisbon
PRIORITY
Peking POLAD, Singapore, Washington (ROUTINE)
LANT
Your telegram No.78.
Macao.
Mr. Hohler summoned the Portuguese Ambassador today 19th January and spoke along the lines of your telegram under reference. He stressed in particular that
(a) detailed arrangements for transit facilities
A)
1.5.
(b)
2.
(c)
to be provided by Hong Kong Government were under discussion with the Portuguese Consul-General, but it would greatly assist you if the Consul- General could be authorised to give you an estimate of the form which any crisis would be likely to take and more precise figures of the numbers and categories of people who might be evacuated;
in answering press enquiries it might not be possible to conceal the fact that the Portuguese authorities were paying for accommodation;
the Hong Kong Government were doing everything possible to help and the fact that so many refugees had already reached Hong Kong not only reduced the size of the problem but also suggested that existing transport facilities were adequate.
The Ambassador expressed his appreciation of the help which was being given and said that he had already drawn to the attention of his Government the points on which you had requested further information. He had received no answer yet from Lisbon. As regards the progress of the negotiations he had no more information than press reports which appeared contradictory but some of which suggested that a compromise had been reached.
The Ambassador promised to convey to us any further information he might receive from Lisbon.
SECRET
130
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