Cypher/Cat A
IMMEDIATE PEKING
TO
2
CONFIDENTIAL
FOREIGN OFFICE
5 February 1968
286
Telno 103
CONFIDENTIAL
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 103 of 5 February, repeated for information to Hong Kong.
285
Hong Kong telegram No. 150 to Commonwealth Office: Communist Prisoners.
I have no comment on the proposed scheme of operations in paragraph 1. I agree it would be best to postpone action until after 8 February.
2. I question the validity of arguments in paragraph 3 (a). The Chinese price for access to Grey was high (formal visits to the 14 men) but if it had been accepted I am sure Consular access to Grey would have been achieved. As regards freedom for Grey we must expect the Chinese to try to strike a very hard bargain but this should not deter us from exploring this avenue. The exchanges with the Chinese on 28 January and 31 underline the facts that Hong Kong prisoners are the key to the Grey problem.
5. On paragraph 3 (b) I should prefer to wait until I have seen the instruction from you on the visa question for staff of this Mission before giving final comments. If, as I greatly hope, we can accept Chinese terms without more ado, I do not think moves to deport Hong Kong prisoners should upset movements of my staff. If, however, I am asked to meet only part of the Chinese demands and to open some kind of bargaining, then there is a danger that Hong Kong will again be brought into equation. In this event it would be wiser to postpone deportations until we saw situation more clearly.
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In general we cannot forecast Chinese attitude to deportation but it maybe that, realizing they are unlikely to obtain early release of their prisoners in Hong Kong and anxious to show to Hong Kong Communists that they are not weakening in their support, they may accept a deportation faute de mieux. Certainly we cannot put a test on deportation indefinitely.
Sir D. Hopson
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
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D.D. & P.U.S.D.
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