Cypher/Cat A
MEDIATE PEKING
то
Telno 112
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FOREIGN OFFICE
8 February 1968
2908
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 112 of 8 February, repeated for information to Hong Kong.
288 Your telegram No. 132: Visas.
i
Cradock was received by Kao, Deputy Head of Consular Department, yesterday afternoon. Following is a summary of the interview.
2.
Cradock began by saying that the British Government had noted with pleasure the Chinese Government's interest in restoring normal staff movements and assured them of our own continuing interest. He referred to Kao's statement at the last interview that if Chinese requests were met the Chinese Government would certainly make corresponding gestures. He then informed Kao that the British Government was prepared to lift completely and at once requirement for Chinese officials to apply for exit visas before leaving Britain, on the clear understanding that in future exit visas for staff of this office would be granted without impediment. The British Government was also prepared to deal with entry visas for Britain in normal way on a basis of reciprocity. If the Chinese Government wished to send new staff to their office or commercial office in London there would be no problem over entry visas. Naturally, we
should expect that there would be no problem over entry visas for British staff going to China.
3. Cradock then went on to say that we were prepared to grant
at once outstanding entry visas for Bank of China officials.
This would be done on the understanding that issue of visas for British bank staff in Shanghai would be dealt with in normal way.
4. On the question of NCNA entry visas, Cradock said he would speak very frankly. This was a very difficult problem for the British Government because of the case of Grey. It would be very hard for the British Government to allow new staff to be sent to NCNA in London while Grey was under house arrest and incommunicado. British public cpinion saw NCNA in London as directly related to Grey and were extremely anxious about Grey. They would see reinforcing of NCNA in London as a political matter and would not understand it. If the British Government could have some assurance that the Chinese Government intended to settle the Gray problem quickly this would be of great assistance in dealing with NCNA entry visas. Cradock said that he was authorized to put forward my personal proposal on the exchange of Grey for Hsueh P'ing as an official proposal and would like to know the Chinese Government's response. If, however, the Chinese had other suggestions to put forward to solve the Grey question the British Government would be glad to hear them.
/5. Cradock
CONFIDENTIAL 288
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