CONFIDENTIAL
CYPHER/CAT A
RIORITY FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING
TELNO 187
22 MARCH, 1967
(F)
68
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 63
28 MANIFO
HWPY
CONFIDENTIAL
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NO. 187 OF 22 MARCH REPEATED FOR
INFORMATION HONG KONG WASHINGTON AND POLAD SINGAPORE.
(63) YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 312: U.S. NAVAL VISITS TO HONG KONG.
You
I AGREE THAT YOU SHOULD REPLY ON THE LINES OF OUR NOTE OF
16 FEBRUARY 1966. THE BODY OF THE NOTE SHOULD READ AS FOLLOWS: BEGINS QUOTE:
H.M.G. REGRET THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA HAVE ONCE MORE REPEATED THEIR ALLEGATIONS THAT HONG KONG IS BEING USED AS A BASE FOR MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST VIETNAM, H.M.G. AGAIN DENY THESE ALLEGATIONS AND CONFIRM THAT THE POSITION AS STATED IN THEIR NOTE TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA 11 OCTOBER 1965, REMAINS UNCHANGED. UNQUOTE ENDS.
2. PROVIDING THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG SEES NO SPECIAL REASON FOR DELAY, THERE WOULD BE ADVANTAGE IN DELIVERING OUR NOTE SOON, AS THIS WILL EMPHASISE TO THE CHINESE AND OTHERS THAT WE HAVE NO DIFFICULTY IN REJECTING THESE CHARGES OUTRIGHT.
3. IF YOU AND GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG AGREE, PLEASE DELIVER THE NOTE IMMEDIATELY AFTER EASTER AND REPORT, WE WILL THEN INFORM THE PRESS THAT WE HAVE REPLIED TO THE CHINESE PROTEST, GIVING THEM THE CONTENT OF OUR REPLY.
4. WASHINGTON PLEASE INFORM STATE DEPARTMENT.
LAST
SOSFA
SENT 23102 22 MARCH, 1967
REF
MONT
FO/CO/WH DISTRIBUTION
REF
63
Go
F.E.D.
CONFIDENTIAL
SENT TO HONG KONG AS COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (D.T.D.) TELEGRAM
NO. 583