TNAG-1473-FCO40-2004-Visits-by-MPs-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 167

18

OCMIAN 7150

CONFIDENTIAL

DD 21020OZ KATHM

FM FCOLN TO HOKON

20184OZ FEB

GRS 531

23

TOP COPY

CONFIDENTIAL

17150 - 1

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 210100Z HONG KONG

TELNO 346

OF 201840 FEBRUARY 86

INFO DESKBY 210200Z KATHMANDU

HRR 027/8

21 FEB 1986

"aken

AB 24

KATHMANDU FOR PRIVATE SECRETARY

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM GALSWORTHY

HONG KONG TELNOS 001 TO KATHMANDU, 546 AND 548 TO FCO AND KATHMANDU TELNO 116: ROBERT ADLEY

1.

(14)

ASSISTANT PRIVATE SECRETARY SPOKE THIS AFTERNOON TO

MR ADLEY, WHO SOMEWHAT RELUCTANTLY REVEALED THE NAME OF HIS CONTACT WITH BRITISH AIRWAYS (A MR LORNIE). MR ADLEY ADDED THAT BRITISH AIRWAYS HAD SINCE SENT HIM A PRESS CUTTING FROM THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST OF 2 FEBRUARY WHICH MADE CLEAR THAT HONG KONG

OFFICIAL SOURCES WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR BRITISH AIRWAYS' NEGATIVE ATTITUDE. MR ADLEY AGAIN CLAIMED THAT BRITISH AIRWAYS HAD SAID

EXPLICITLY THAT THEY HAD BEEN TOLD BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT THAT HIS PRESENCE WOULD CREATE DIFFICULTIES AND TURN THE

CELEBRATORY FLIGHT INTO SOMETHING OF AN EMBARRASSMENT.

2.

HE THEN SPECULATED ABOUT HOW THE PRESS HAD KNOWN SO MUCH ABOUT HIS INTENDED VISIT TO HONG KONG, ALLEGING THAT ONLY OFFICIALS IN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT COULD HAVE GIVEN THEM THIS INFORMATION, AND THAT ONLY THEY COULD HAVE EXPRESSED THE THOUGHT THAT MR ADLEY'S PRESENCE ON THE FLIGHT WOULD CAUSE DIFFICULTIES.

3. GAL SWORTHY HAS SINCE SPOKEN TO LORNIE AT BRITISH AIRWAYS.

1

CONFIDENTIAL