SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 531
OF 201014Z FEBRUARY 91
AND TO PRIORITY PEKING
SECRET
HKB 345/1
(26)
062335
MDLIAN 9836
త/
PEKING TELNO 157 TO FCO: TRAVEL BY CZECH DIPLOMATS
1. GIVEN NAMES AND OTHER BASIC DETAILS, IT WOULD BE PERFECTLY POSSIBLE FOR IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT TO SUPPLY THE REQUIRED INFORMATION ON MOVEMENT THROUGH HONG KONG. NOR DO WE SEE ANY LEGAL IMPEDIMENT TO OUR DOING THIS. THE POLICE QUITE OFTEN PROVIDE INFORMATION OF THIS SORT TO OTHER GOVERNMENTS IN THE PURSUIT OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS.
2. HOWEVER, WE WOULD BE A LITTLE UNEASY ABOUT COMMITTING OURSELVES TO DOING THIS WITHOUT KNOWING MORE OF THE BACKGROUND. WHAT EXACTLY DOES 'SMUGGLING MEAN? ARE WE TALKING ABOUT DRUGS OR OTHER ILLEGAL ITEMS? THE POLICE WOULD NORMALLY REFUSE A REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE IF THE ACTIVITY CONCERNED WAS NOT A CRIME IN HONG KONG.
3. IT ALSO PUZZLES US WHY THE REQUEST HAS COME INFORMALLY IN THIS WAY NOT E.G. VIA INTERPOL. THE OBVIOUS CONCLUSION TO DRAW IS THAT THE CZECH FOREIGN MINISTRY (OR EVEN THE MISSION IN PEKING?) ARE TRYING TO DEAL WITH THE MATTER INTERNALLY. THE REFERENCE TO NOT OBTAINING PERMISSION FROM THE EMBASSY BEFORE TRAVELLING MAKES US WONDER A LITTLE ABOUT WHAT MIGHT BE INVOLVED.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
MINIMAL
FED
NNNN
19
DISTRIBUTION
19
PAGE
SECRET
HKD
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