GRPS 300
PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT A
FM HONG KONG 0109002
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
TO PRIORITY PRAGUE TELEGRAM NO 001 OF 1 MARCH
INFO F C O (FOR F E D AND M V D).
FECE
14
RE
HKK 345/509/1
YOUR TELEGRAM NO 001: PROPOSED TRANSIT STOP OF CZECH
FOREIGN TRADE MINISTER.
ZECH.
"%/3%
THIS REQUEST CAUSES US REAL DIFFICULTY. IT WILL BE AWKWARD (AND HARD FOR YOU TO DEFEND) IF WE REFUSE PERMISSION FOR AN APPARENTLY INNONCENT TRANSIT STOP, BUT BY ALLOWING IT WE WILL OPEN A LOOPHOLE IN OUR GUARD WHICH FUTURE TRAVELLERS FROM EAST
EUROPEAN COUNTRIES WILL CERTAINLY SEEK TO EXPLOIT.
2. THERE ARE SEVERAL ROUTES BACK TO PRAGUE FROM MANILA WHICH DO NOT INVOLVE A TRANSIT STOP IN HONG KONG AND WE STRONGLY SUSPECT THAT THE REQUEST IS A ''TRY-ON''. ON THE OTHER HAND, ONE OF THE OFFICIALS, KIRSBAUM, RECEIVED AN INVITATION IN 1975 FROM THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL TO VISIT HONG KONG FOR COMMERCIAL REASONS. THIS VISIT SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED TO MATERIALISE.
3. IF THE MINISTER AND PARTY ARE GIVEN PERMISSION TO PASS THROUGH HONG KONG WE FEAR WE MAY HAVE TO ASK THEM TO REMAIN IN THE PRECINCTS OF THE AIRPORT, IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES WE WOULD BE OBLIGED IF YOU COULD TACTFULLY EXPLAIN THAT IT IS NOT CONVENIENT FOR THE GROUP TO VISIT HONG KONG ON THEIR WAY HOME AND TO ASK THEM TO CONSIDER TRAVELLING VIA EITHER BANGKOK, SINGAPORE OR SOME OTHER ROUTE INSTEAD.
4. IN CASE IT ARISES, THE QUESTION OF A VISIT DURING WHICH MUTUAL COMMERCIAL INTERESTS COULD BE DISCUSSED WOULD TAKE TIME TO ORGANISE AND WOULD HAVE TO BE DISCUSSED SEPARATELY.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
EESD
FED
MR MURRAY
MVD
CONFIDENTIAL
SI
O
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