CONFIDENTIAL
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PP BANGKOK
GRS 435
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 151409Z NOV 78
TO PRIORITY BANGKOK
TELEGRAM. NUMBER 305 OF 15 NOVEMBER.
FOR GORING-MORRIS FROM DUNCAN.
RITA NIGHTINGALE.
Of HKK 385/2
RELEIVIDIN REGISTRY NA. 51 17 NOV 1978
DESK OFFICE
INDEX
No
OFFICE
REGISTRY Action Tren
1. DAVID LYMAN FOLLOWED UP THIS TALK WITH ME (MY LETTER OF
11 OCTOBER REFERS) BY WRITING AT LENGTH TO MRS BARBARA CASTLE AND
SENDING HER A QUESTIONNAIRE (OF WHICH DAVID HALLMARK IS CLEARLY THE
MAIN AUTHOR) COMPOSED OF 32 QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BACKGROUND TO THE
HONG KONG TIP-OFF. MRS CASTLE HAS INCIDENTALLY BEEN PERSUADED BY
MR LYMAN'S ENTHUSIASM AND CONFIDENCE THAT HE CAN, SECURE MISS
} NIGHTINGALE'S RELEASE.
2. WE HAVE DELAYED BRINGING YOU UP TO DATE ON THIS DEVELOPMENT
UNTIL WE HAVE OBTAINED THE S/S'S VIEWS BUT BECAUSE OF OTHER MORE
PRESSING PREOCCUPATIONS HE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CONSIDER THE MATTER
CR TO SPEAK WITH MRS CASTLE.
3. OUR ADVICE HAS BEEN THAT, IN THE LIGHT OF YOUR MOST INTERESTING
LETTER OF 20 OCTOBER, A FURTHER INVESTIGATION INTO THE HONG KONG
ASPECT OF THE AFFAIR WOULD BE LARGELY AN IRRELEVANCE (AND IN ANY
CASE THE HONG KONG GOVT HAVE SAID THEY ARE UNWILLING TO ALLOW US TO
DISCUSS CONFIDENTIAL POLICE DOCUMENTS WITH THE DEFENCE LAWYERS) AND
THAT WE SHOULD NOW LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR CARRYING FORWARD AN
INFORMAL DIALOGUE WITH THE THAIS TO SEE HOW BEST WE MIGHT IN DUE
COURSE SUPPORT, AT THE DIPLOMATIC LEVEL, A PLEA FOR A ROYAL PARDON.
WE HAVE ALSO ADVISED THE S/S TO TELL MRS CASTLE THAT WE PREFER TO
OPERATE THROUGH YOU AND NOT MR HALLMARK AND THAT WE DO NOT INTEND
TO SEEK ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE. WE SHALL REPORT FURTHER AS
SOON AS THE S/S HAS TAKEN A DECISION.
4. MEANWHILE MR DAVID LYMAN HAS WRITTEN FURTHER TO MRS CASTLE TO SAY
THAT HE HAS TALKED, TO THE MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR AND HIS PERSONAL
ASSISTANT SECRETARY AND INTER ALIA BRIEFED THE LATTER ON THIS
DISCUSSION WITH ME OF 3 OCTOBER. HE SAYS HE ALSO TALKED TO THE THAI
EMBASSY IN LONDON AND INTENDS NOW TO APPROACH THE MINISTER OF
1 CONFIDENTIAL
/ JUSTICE.
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