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Interstingly, not on Puss copy! Tim Simmo
CONFIDENTIAL
I'm afraid he has
star the text of the telegrams was not publiskas.
док сварочно
Ps(rus 3/2
Published the text of several telegrams- ref below.
FROM: P R Ricketts
Hong Kong Department
がん
DATE: 31 January 1992
DAVID GILLMORE CC: Mr Burns
Jchetts
PS/PUS
PUBLICATION OF CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL ABOUT THE LORRAIN OSMAN
CASE
1. The PUS may
wish to be alerted to the fact that the journalist (and Osman lobbyist) Kevin Cahill has distributed widely within Parliament a booklet about the Osman case containing a number of classified telegrams, two of which date from December 1985, when the PUS was High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur. The PUS might therefore be approached personally about this case.
2.
Cahill wrote to Sir A Watts last year alleging unspecified corruption on the part of FCO officials and threatening to publish these telegrams. We concluded at that time that it would probably be unproductive to take legal action to restrain Cahill, and could well be severely embarrassing (cf Peter Wright) but that Sir J Coles should reply, suggesting that Cahill think very carefully before publishing. Sir J Coles duly wrote in these terms, and Cahill responded by retracting the allegations of corruption. But he has now called our bluff on publication. I have asked
Mr Berman, for advice on how we should respond. If the conclusion is that we still do not wish to take legal action against Cahill, we shall certainly need a convincing line as to why not.
3.
The latest news on Osman himself is that a seventh application for habeas corpus was lodged on 27 January and was due to be heard by Lord Justice Woolf on 31 January. We therefore need to be very cautious in any comments on the case, not only because it is sub judice, but also because any new snippet of information would give Osman grounds for yet further habeas corpus applications.
HKD 384/1
RECEIVE
12 FEB 1997
DESK OFFICE
INDEX
P
Lidletts
PF Ricketts
JM1ABE
TG
ZB.
CONFIDENTIAL
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