TNAG-0755-FCO40-959-Security-arrangements-at-Kai-Tak-Airport-1978 — Page 98

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IMMEDIATE

CYPHER/CAT A

meta keng keddmades da inkarnikavas

SECRET

HKK OSI/1.

RECEIVE

4 MAY 1978

DACK OFFICER

INDEX

NO. 51

RES

"RY

Actor Taken

15t

PA

i7

F

FM PEKING

9473382

SECRET

why

TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELNO 264 OF

MAY 1978

Seefia

INFO HONG KONG (FOR GOVERNOR AND POLAD), TOKYO, MODUK (DS1), SECURITY SERVICE.

YOUR TEL 349 TO HONG KONG: COUNTER TERRORISM.

1. THE CHINESE REACTION WOULD OF COURSE DEPEND TO SOME EXTENT

ON THE STATE OF THEIR RELATIONS WITH THE JAPANESE AT THE TIME ON HOW WE PRESENT THE MATTER TO THEM OR, IF WE DO NOT INFORM THEM, THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THEY BECAME AWARE.

HOWEVER,

I CANNOT SEE THEM BEING PLEASED AT THE PROSPECT AND THEY MAY

WELL OBJECT. THERE IS NO IDENTIFIABLE ADVANTAGE TO THEM IN

ACQUIESCING BEFORE OR AFTER THE EVENT, BUT THERE ARE SURELY CONSIDERABLE POLITICAL AND SECURITY RISKS. ASSUMING AS I THINK

WE MUST THAT WORD OF THE EXERCISE WOULD LEAK OUT, WE CAN BE VIRTUALLY CERTAIN THAT THE RUSSIANS WOULD MAKE THE MOST OF IT, AND THAT CHINESE EMBASSIES, AIRCRAFT ETC WOULD BECOME POTENTIAL

TERRORIST TARGETS. I THINK TOO THAT THE CHINESE WOULD HAVE

DIFFICULTY IN ACCEPTING THAT THE JAPANESE WERE INCAPABLE OF

MAKING SUITABLE ARRANGEMENTS IN JAPAN.

P. AS SEEN FROM HERE THEREFORE IT WOULD BE UNDESIRABLE TO

ARRANGE THIS EXERCISE IN HONG KONG.

DAVIES

FILES

MAED

HREE D

FAD

PUSD

MR MURRAY

}

SECRET

COPIES

MR

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