CONFIDENTIAL
CYPHER/CAT A
IMMEDIATE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TO HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1262
5 JULY 1968 (F)
223
CONFIDENTIAL
ADDRESSED TO HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 1262 OF 5 JULY REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING WASHINGTON POLAD SINGAPORE.
YOUR TELEGRAMS NOS. 841 AND 850. UIS. NAVAL VISITS. / 8 (220) WE AGREE THAT THESE VISITS ARE WITHIN THE PRESENT GUIDELINES AND NOT INTRINSICALLY CONTROVERSIAL. BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN CONSIDIR> ATIONS OF TIMING TO BE BORNE IN MIND-
辺
(A) THE VISITS TAKE PLACE AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF OUR GENERAL REVIEW OF NAVAL VISITS (COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TELEGRAM NO. 1252). #N PARAGRAPH 2(A) OF THAT TELEGRAM WE SUGGESTED THAT NAVAL VISITS, ESPECIALLY THOSE BY HEAVY VESSELS, SHOULD BE CAREFULLY SPACED WE WISH TO AVOID THE APPEARANCE OF PREJUDGING ANY DECISION ON THIC POINT:
-HWAV/2/616 (B) YOU WILL HAVE SEEN FROM PEKING TELEGRAM NO. 630 THAT SIR DI HOPSON MAS NOT BEEN GRANTED AN EXIT VISA TO LEAVE ON 1 JULY BUT THAT THE CHINESE HAVE NOT SO FAR SPECIFICALLY TURNED DOWN THE APPLICATION. 'WHILE THERE IS ANY FLEXIBILITY IN THE CHINESE POSITION ON EXIT VISAS FOR SENIOR STAFF AND CONSEQUENTLY ANY HOPE OF A FAVOURABLE OUTCOME WE ARE RELUCTANT TO RISK UNNECESSARY ACTION THAT HAY PREJUDICE THIS.
B IN THE LIGHT OF THESE CONSIDERATIONS AND THE VIEWS OF SIR DI (2/4) HOPSON'S TELEGRAM NO. 629, PLEASE TELL THE AMERICANS THAT THE
VISITS OF THE VALLEY FORGE (8-13 JULY) AND OF THE **BOSTON* * (25-30 JULY) MAY STAND, BUT THAT WE SHOULD LIKE TO SEE A $IGNIFICANT GAP BETWEEN THE TWO VESSELS AND SHOULD THEREFORE PREFER THE "BONHOMME RICHARD** NOT TO VISIT HONG KONG AT THIS TIME. YOU MAY WISH TO DRAW ON THE ABOVE IN EXPLANATION.
3. GRATEFUL IF WASHINGTON WOULD ALSO EXPLAIN THE POSITION TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT, MAKING THE POINT ABOUT EXIT VISAS FOR SENIOR STAFF WHICH HAS BEEN MENTIONED TO THE AMERICANS IN LONDON BUT BOT IN THE CONTEXT OF NAVAL VISITS.
GROSEC
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.O.
C.O. H.K.D.
F.E.D.
F.0.
DEFENCE DEPT.
S.E.A.D.
AMERICAN DEPT.
P.U.S.D.
NEWS DEPT.
C.O. F.E. AND P.D.
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 63 -8 JUL1950
HWB2/1
TAL
224
(227)