TNAG-1473-FCO40-2004-Visits-by-MPs-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 145

Se

ADOO DOL

CONFIDENTIAL

17457

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3

OCMIAN 7457

CONFIDENTIAL

OO HOKON

FM FCOLN TO HOKON

211610Z FEB

GRS 436

HKR027/8

RECEIVED 'N REGISTRY

27 FEB 1986

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 354

OF 211610Z FEBRUARY 86

GISK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

AJBIZ

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM GALSWORTHY

MIPT:

ROBERT ADLEY

FOLLOWING IS DRAFT REPLY FROM SECRETARY OF STATE:

BEGINS.

1.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LETTER OF 18 FEBRUARY. I AM SORRY THAT

YOU WILL NOT NOW BE GOING TO HONG KONG.

2. I WAS EXTREMELY CONCERNED AT THE CONTENTS OF YOUR LETTER TO SIR EDWARD YOUDE, AND HAVE HAD THE MATTER LOOKED INTO URGENTLY

THE BOTH WITH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND BRITISH AIRWAYS,

LATTER BOTH IN LONDON AND HONG KONG.

3. I THINK THAT THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A MISUNDERSTANDING. BRITISH AIRWAYS HAVE ASSURED US THAT THE DECISION TO SUGGEST THAT YOU SHOULD NOT GO ON THE TRIP WAS THEIRS ALONE, AND THAT NO SUGGESTION TO THAT EFFECT WAS MADE TO THEM BY ANY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SOURCE. THEY HAVE ALSO TOLD US THAT THERE WAS NO SUGGESTION IN WHAT THEY SAID TO YOU THAT OFFICIAL SOURCES IN HONG

KONG WERE IN ANY WAY INVOLVED.

4.

I HAVE CONFIRMED WITH THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO SUGGESTION FROM THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT THAT YOUR

VISIT WOULD BE IN ANY WAY UNWELCOME.

5. IN VIEW OF WHAT YOU SAID TO MY PRIVATE SECRETARY ABOUT THE PUBLICITY FOR YOUR VISIT, WE HAVE ALSO LOOKED INTO THIS ASPECT.

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