i
HKK 341
RECEIVED IN RESISTAT NO. ST
11 24 JAN 1973
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
No
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT
6
GRAFTON
STREET
Our Ref: 1/12/108C
LONDON
PA
OFFICE
WIX 3 L B
10th January, 1978
M.T
7
VISIT OF MR. J. ROPER, M.P.
AND COLONEL MONTGOMERY
NOT RECEIVED IN_HKOD REGY.
Thank you for your letter SCR 6/2051/55 IX of
30 December, 1977.
Roper started the meeting by apologising for the press reports following their meeting with Lord Goronwy- Roberts. Montgomery said that what had happened was that Reuters had got on to him after reading a list of those who had visited the Minister that day. When the Reuter reporter had asked for comments he had been referred to Colonel Montgomery. Montgomery thought that he was expected to say what had gone on in the meeting and so spoke to the Reuter reporter. The interview was made more unfortunate by a misunderstanding over the question of legal representation. Both Roper and Montgomery thought the Minister had said that legal representation would be provided though Roper said he was astonished at this state- ment. Even the subsequent clarification with a reference to further discussion surprised Roper. I said I could not take that point any further except to say that illegal immigrants were handled by the Immigration Department in a sympathetic way. We discussed the general question of immigration and I did not get the impression that the management of illegal immigrants was a matter of great concern. Montgomery produced a xerox from the S.C.M.P. of 9.2.1975 with an article entitled "Freedom Seeker sent back to Slavery". He said the case was rather old but without pressing too hard one asked for details. I said that I remembered the case though I did not remember the outcome or whether there was any response to this news report. I offered to obtain further details and should be most grate- ful if you could let me have papers to pass to Colonel Montgomery.
L.M. Davies, Esq., CMG,OBE,
Secretary for Security,
Government Secretariat,
Lower Albert Road,
Hong Kong.
TELEPHONE: 01-499 9821
.../.
CABLES: HONGAID LONDONWI
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