TNAG-0667-FCO40-816-Restrictions-on-issue-of-visas-to-nationals-of-Soviet-Bloc-c-1988 — Page 74

GR 150

IMMEDIATE

CYPHER/CAT A

FM HONG KONG 030855Z

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

1

RECEIVED IN RESTRY No.

3 MAR 1977

DESKBY FCO 030900Z

TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELNO 223 OF 3 MARCH

INFO PRIORITY PRAGUE.

PRAGUE TELNOS. 80 AND 81 TO YOU: BARCAK.

FFX

WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE QUICKEST WAY HOME FROM MANILA FOR BARCAK- WOULD BE TO FLY MANILA-SINGAPORE-FRANKFURT-PRAGUE (VARIATIONS INVOLVING PHILIPPINE AIRLINES, KLM AND LUFTHANSA COULD BE USED) OR MANILA/ZURICH/PRAGUE DIRECTLY BY SWISSAIR. ALTERNATIVELY, SINCE AEROFLOT FLY FROM BANGKOK TO MOSCOW, THERE MAY BE A FURTHER FAST ROUTE MANILA/BANGKOK/MOSCO/PRAGUE. SINCE ALL AIRCRAFT HAVE TO FLY SOUTH ROUND THE INDO-CHINA PENINSULA, IT SCARCELY MAKES SENSE FOR ANYONE IN A HURRY TO MAKE A NORTHER DETOUR TO HONG KONG FOR A SIX-

HOUR STOP-OVER,

2. IT IS USEFUL TO KNOW ABOUT THE NORWEGIAN PRECEDENT, BUT WE HOPE · YOU AGREE THAT THE INFORMATION IN THE ABOVE PARAGRAPH SHOULD GIVE THE EMBASSY SUFFICIENT MATERIAL TO MAKE OUR POINT.

3. YOU MAY ALSO WISH TO ALERT MANILA TO THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM IN CASE BENTLEY IS TACKLED BY THE CZECHS WHEN THEY ARRIVE THERE.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

FED

MVD

HKD

EESD

MR HIBBERT

MR MURRAY

MR SUTHERLAND

CONFIDENTIAL