TNAG-0820-FCO40-1027-Narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 138

GRS 489

CONFIDENTIAL

FM BANGKOK Ø38719Z

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 479 OF 8 DEC

CONFIDENTIAL

·N.7.

HKK 385/2

Lee88

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 1 1 DEC1978

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

M

PA

REG STRY

Action

The

85

FOR DUNCAN FROM GORING-MORRIS

YOUR LETTER OF 1 DECEMBER : RITA NIGHTINGALE

:

1. ANY APPROACH TO THE THAIS

HOWEVER INFORMAL,

WİLL

ALMOST

CERTAINLY REQUIRE US TO PUT FORWARD SOME GROUNDS TO JUSTIFY OUR PROPOSED INTERVENTION. FROM THE OUTSET, WE THEREFORE NEED

WHILE

TO BE CLEAR IN OUR OWN MINDS WHAT LINE WE INTEND TO TAKE. SMPHASISING THAT WE HAVE NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THERE HAS BEEN ANY MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE ON THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED BEFORE THE THAI COURTS, WE MIGHT MAKE THE FOLLOWING POINTS : (A) MISS NIGHTINGALE HAS PROTESTED HER INNOCENCE

THROUGHOUT, AND CONTINUES TO DO so .;

(B) WE NOW HAVE SOME INFORMATION, WHICH WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO

THE COURTS, THAT SHE MAY HAVE BEEN DUPED BY HONGKONG CONSPIRATORS

(ONE OF WHOM IS NOW SERVING A PRISON SENTENCE ON A NARCOTICS CHARGE) (C) SHE MAY NOT THEREFORE HAVE BEEN A KNOWING CARRIER.,'

(D)

THE CASE HAS LED TO CONSIDERABLE PUBLIC CONCERN IN THE UNITED KINGDOM WHICH MIGHT ADVERSELY AFFECT RELATIONS BETWEEN OUR

TWO COUNTRIES.

2. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT WE SHOULD SO FAR AS POSSIBLE CONCERT OUR EFFORTS WITH THOSE OF THE DEFENCE IN ORDER TO PRESENT A UNITED FRONT TO THE THAI AUTHORITIES AND THEREBY ENSURE MAXIMUM IMPACT. MOREOVER, PRIOR CONSULTATION AND COOPERATION WITH DAVID LYMAN AT

TO ENLIST HIS THIS END IS MORE LIKELY, IN MY OPINION CONFIDENCE THAN FOR HIM TO LEARN THROUGH HIS OWN CONTACTS THAT WE ARE ACTING UNILATERALLY. THIS SHOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR US TO HEAD OFF HIS PURSUIT, THROUGH US, OF THE HONGKONG CONNECTION., AND ALSO ENABLE YOU TO SAY TO ENQUIRERS IN THE UK (INCLUDING MRS CASTLE) THAT WE ARE COOPERATING WITH THE DEFENCE LAWYERS ON HOW TO HANDLE THE

FUTURE OF THIS CASE.

CONFIDENTIAL

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