TNAG-0617-FCO40-765-Strength-and-cost-of-UK-armed-forces-stationed-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 9

CYPHER CAT A

FM PORT MORESBY 150335Z

/HKE 062/2

CONFIDENTIAL

GUNS DÁ SA

Jals

No

d of

TO PRIORITY CBF HONG KONG TELNO M10 OF 15 NOVEMBER

RFI PRIORITY CANDERRA FOR COL CARTER

N/R

YOUR TELNO DIG RAC OF 14 NOVEMBER

VISIT OF 7 GR TO PNG

55

67

آمار

1. I AM AWARE OF NO (NO) POLITICAL DIFFICULTIES AT THIS END. THE PHGDF ARE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE VISIT AND HAVE ALREADY MADE EXTENSIVE PLANS FOR THE EXERCISE, INCLUDING CHARTERING AN AIRCRAFT TO TRANSPORT THE PLATOON FROM MORESBY TO WEWAK ON 10 DECEMBER (THE EXPECTED DATE OF ARRIVAL HERE). COLONEL DOTAONO TELLS ME THAT A LETTER TO YOU IS IN THE POST ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS, BUT PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT ARE THE OUTSTANDING PROBLEMS AND I WILL TRY TO GET YOU REPLIES BY TEL -EGRAM.

2. THERE HAS BEEN SOME LENGTHY, DISCUSSION WITH THE PNG DEPT OF JUSTICE ABOUT STATUS ARRANGEMENTS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE DEFENCE (VISITING FORCES) ACT, BUT DIFFICULTIES SEEM NOW TO BE RESOLVED AND PNG AUTHORITIES EXPECT TO HAVE THE EXCHANGE CF NOTES READY FOR SIGNING BY 23 NOVEMBER.

3. PNG GOVERNMENT APPROVAL FOR THE VISIT HAS BEEN GIVEN AND ANY SUGGESTION OF CANCELLATION WOULD BE MOST UNFORTUNATE.

FCO PLEASE BOTH

MIDDLETON

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