CONFIDENTIAL
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 212 TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
3 -
(111) THE NUMBER OF VISITORS TO EACH PRISONER AT ANY ONE TIME MUST BE REASONABLY RESTRICTED, 1.E. TO TWO OR THREE VISITORS.
(1V) THE TIMING MUST BE CONVENIENT TO THE PRISON AUTHORITIES.
(V) VISITS SHOULD NOT NORMALLY LAST MORE THAN 15 MINUTES EXCEPT WITH GOOD REASON (THIS LIMIT IS APPLIED GENERALLY TO PRISON VISITS IN THE
INTERESTS OF VISITORS SINCE INTERVEWING FACILITIES ARE NOT
UNLIMITED AND LONGER VISITS WOULD OFTEN MEAN VISITORS WAITING LONGER) 6. VISITS ON THES BASIS (WHICH H.M CHARGE COULD MAKE OUT WERE RATHER
SPECIAL CONDITIONS IF THIS WOULD HELP) WOULD NOT BE AN EMBARRASSMENT.
THEY WOULD ALLOW 'PATRIOTIC JOURNALISTS' TO BE VISITED BY THE
ECITORS OR MANAGERS OF THEIR PAPERS (OR SOMEONE SIMILAR) BUT NOT BY
THE N.C.N.A. PER SE. IF HOWEVER THE CHINESE MAINTAIN THAT 'FORMAL'
VISITS MEAN SOMETHING MORE, I SHOULD HAVE TO RECONSIDER WHEN THEIR
EXTRA REQUIREMENTS WERE KNOWN.
7. ON THE OTHER HAND IF, BEFORE MAKING AN APPROACH, H.M. CHARGE WOULD
WISH ANY FURTHER CLARIFICATION, OR ANY MODIFICATIONS WITHIN THIS
FRAMEWORK, I WOULD OF COURSE BE GLAD TO TRY TO MEET HIM.
POSSIBILITIES ARE :-
(A) TO HINT THAT AN N.C.N.A. OFFICIAL COULD ACCOMPANY THE EMPLOYER,
AND
(B) TO ARRANGE THAT INTERVIEWS TAKE PLACE IN THE ROOM WHERE LAWYERS
SEE PRISONER CLIENTS, WHICH IS SOMEWHAT MORE COMFORTABLE THAN THE
NORMAL ARRANGEMENTS AND MIGHT BE THOUGHT MORE 'FORMAL'.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT CLEAR HOWEVER THAT I WOULD PREFER NOT TO
MAKE THESE CONCESSIONS WHICH WOULD RATHER TOO GREATLY DISTINGUISH
THESE PEOPLE FROM ORDINARY PRISONERS : AND I WOULD WISH TO CONSIDER
BEFORE FINALLY AGREEING.
8. THE OPPORTUNITY MIGHT ALSO BE TAKEN TO ENQUIRE FURTHER ABOUT THE
PROPOSED HSUEH PING/GREY EXCHANGE.
FO PLEASE PASS IMMEDIATE PEKING AS MYTEL 69.
SIR D. TRENCH
[REPETITION TO PEKING,
REFERRED FOR DEPARTMENTAL DECISION]
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION C.U. H.A. DEPT. r.0. F.E.D.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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