}
দ
181A
CONFIDENTIAL
Cypher/Cat A
PRIORITY PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
Telno 307
4 December 1967
CONFIDENTIAL
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 307 of 4 December. Repeated for information to Hong Kong.
174A) Your telegram No. 1052: N.C.N.A.
I take it our objectives are two-fold to bring some pressure on N.C.N.A. in London in relation to the grey question: but at the same time to maintain the trend towards interchange of normal conditions, which despite my interview of 2 December, may still flow.
2. The course in your paragraph 4 would probably be too forthcoming, since N.C... would probably reconsider their renewals and pay no attention to our pleas about urey. The ultimate sanction of exit visas may not mean much to journalists whose object is to live and work in London rather than to leave the country.
3. The course in your paragraph 3 is better. We might summon Chinese in relation to their request for information and explain that we have been very co-operative towards N.C.N.A. We have made no trouble over residence permits for their officials although in several cases these have expired (I take it that this last point is true). We have allowed regular access to Mr. Hsueh P'ing in Hong Kong by his N.C..h. colieagues. We are deeply concerned about condition of Mr. Grey but have so far not even been allowed Consular access to him. This would keep up pressure about Grey and remind N.C.N.A. of their vulnerability on residence permits.
4. The question is whether this interview should be preceded by the granting of application (Li Fu). It would be possible for us to make no response for the present about the renewals and, if asked by the Chinese to say we have no news. On balance, however, I think it may be better to grant this one application since it remains our prime objective to keep up current flow in direct goodwill and normality.
I assume
5. I suggest this interview should be conducted in London. also that lack of residence permits will not in practise prevent the officials from going about their normal functions, e.g. it will not mean that Yu Hang loses his Press card. Are Press cards, subject to renewal?
Foreign Office please pass Hong Kong 150.
[Repeated as requested]
Mr. Hopson
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
1.0.
F.E.D.
Passport Control Dept. Consular Dept.
News Dept.
C.U. hong kong Dept.
F.D.F.D.
LAST REF
174A
S.ax
CONFIDENTIAL