Cypher/Cat A
PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
RESTRICTED
105
Telno 953
25 July, 1967
RESTRICTED
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No.953 of 25 July, Repeated for information to Hong Kong (Please pass also to B.T.C.) and Tokyo.
Four or five Japanese businessmen were hauled out of their Hsin Chiao hotel rooms yesterday morning (24th) and severely man-handled by crowd in corridor while Public Security men searched their rooms.
2. Nihon Keizai correspondent has told us that Japanese concerned were representatives of "friendly" firms two of whom had participated in recent Japanese exhibition in Tienstin. Other exhibitors who had left China earlier had had their luggage searched by Chinese customs at Shum Chun for "spy" photographs (Samejima did not know if any film had been confiscated). Japanese assume that Hsin Chiao search had similar purpose. There are many anti-Japanese posters up in the hotel.
3. Police appear to have found nothing incriminating,, and Samejima thinks men concerned will stay in Peking and continue business.
4.
Same jima's cable about the incident was rejected at the Post office, but his NHK colleague got report out by telephone.
5.
Please pass to Board of Trade.
Foreign Office please pass Tokyo 14.
Mr. Hopson
Sent 0800Z/25 July
Recd 10312/25 July
[Repeated as requested]
[Copies sent to Board of Trade]
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