TNAG-0692-FCO40-842-Congolese-diplomatic-correspondence-found-at-Kai-Tak-Airport-1977 — Page 23

Mr Roberts (WAD)

CONGOLESE DOCUMENTS

1.

3442

SECRET

Reference....

Wilk &

HKK 404/1

R & R

3/5

Attached (and for PUSD) is a copy of the Hong Kong Political Adviser's letter of 20 May to Mr Milton of HKGD. You will see that Mr Donald asks for advice on three points concerning the papers discovered in March this year in an abandoned suitcase at Hong Kong's Kai Tak Airport:

2.

(a) whether the documents (the originals are in my possession;

you have already seen copies) should be returned to the. Congolese in London, Paris or Kinshasa;

(b) if the suitcase itself and the remainder of its contents,

minus the arms and amunition, should simultaneously be returned, via Jardines, to Air France, who would presumably pass them to Congolese; and

(c) what should be done with the pistols and amunition.

I would be grateful for your advice on these points. My view is that, in that the Congolese request for the return of property was conveyed by MFA note to our Embassy in Kinshasa, the papers should be returned via the same channel; but Air France and HACTL should be left, with the suitcase and its remaining harmless contents, to haggle about charges and to return the property to the Congolese; at the arms and amunition should be confiscated after due process in the Hong Kong courts.

เด๋

25 May 1977

T J David

Hong Kong & General Department K 245

233 4777

cc: PUSD

1.

Mr David

Hong Kong's advice seems como

me

DaMat

26/5

CODE 18 -77

DLORET

D

15/1