TNAG-0934-FCO40-1153-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-Soviet-Union-1980 — Page 3

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4 AUG 1980

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Action Taken

GPS 230

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FM HONG KONG 230943Z JUL 83

TO PRIORITY FCQ

TELEGRAM NUMBER 929 OF 23 JULY

INFO FRIORITY WASHINGTON MOSCOW

TWO LOCAL NEWSPAPERS HAVE GOT WIND OF A CASE OF A SOVIET MERCHANT SEAMAN, GORBACHENKO, REPORTED IN PARA 21 OF OUR LIC REPORT FOR MAY 1980(NOT TO MOSCOW AND WASHINGTON). GORBACHENKO STOWED AWAY ON A SOVIET CONTAINER SHIP, SLIPPED ASHORE IN HONG KONG ON 21 MAY AND WENT DIRECTLY TO THE AMERICAN CONSULATE-GENERAL SEEKING PERMISSION TO ENTER THE USA. WHILE THE AMERICANS WERE CONSIDERING HIS CASE, HE WAS DETAINED BY IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT FOR ENQUIRIES AS HE HAD NO PROPER DOCUMENTS.

2. THE AMERICANS FINALLY AGREED TO GRANT HIM ''PAROLED ENTRY'' AND HE WAS RELEASED FROM DETENTION FOR IMMEDIATE TRAVEL TO THE USA

ON 7 JULY 1980.

3. IN ANSWER TO QUESTIONS FROM THE PRESS THE AMERICANS ARE SAYING THAT A SOVIET CITIZEN DID APPLY FOR ENTRY INTO THE USA. HE WAS GRANTED PAROLED ENTRY, A STATUS NORMALLY GIVEN TO REFUGEES. FOR OUR PART WE SHALL SAY ONLY THAT THE CITIZEN WAS DETAINED UNDER THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE WHILE ENQUIRIES WERE BEING MADE. WE SHALL BOTH DECLINE TO COMMENT FURTHER.

4. OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT GORBACHENKO WAS OF NO SPECIAL INTELLIGENCE OR OTHER INTEREST TO THE AMERICANS BUT WAS SOMEONE WHO WAS ATTRACTED TO THEIR WAY OF LIFE AND SEIZED THE OPPORTUNITY WHEN

IT AROSE.

CATER

FILES HK v GD

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LAST PAPER

THIS TELEGRAM

WAS NOT ADVANCED

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PUSD

OID

NEWS: D

SIRE YOUDE MR FERGUSSON

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