her/Cat A
CONFIDENTIAL
IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
Telno. 106
5 February 1968
287
CONFIDENTIAL
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 106 of
5 February,
Repeated for information to Hong Kong.
286
My telegram No. 103:
Communist prisoners.
On rereading Hong Kong telegram No. 150 to Commonwealth Office I note that though it is clear that the Governor. proposes to proceed with deportation whether or not prisoners sign paper it is not (repeat not) clear whether he would proceed with a forcible deportation if the prisoners positively stated they were unwilling to go.
2. A key point in operational arrangements will of course be willingness of prisoners to return to China. It may be difficult for the Chinese Government to refuse them if they themselves are willing to cross the border and while it is conceivable that the Chinese might still accept them even if they had to be forced across the chances of failure and damaging propaganda would be much higher in that event. I hope therefore that efforts will be made to persuade prisoners beforehand. It would be much better to have our trial run with two willing deportees.
Foreign Office pass Hong Kong 65.
Sir D. Hopson.
[Repeated as requested]
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
F.0.
F.E.D.
D.D. & P.U.S.D.
C.O.
DDDDD
News Dept.
J.I.R.D.
J.I.P.G.D.
J.I.A.D.
H.K.D.
F.E. & P.D.
CONFIDENTIAL
286
2901291
4
Page 105Page 106