CYPHER/CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
PRIORITY FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING
TELEGRAM NO. 70
18 JANUARY, 1968 (F)
CONFIDENTIAL.
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 70 OF 18 JANUARY REPEATED
FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG.
MY TEL NO. 69. [INTERVIEW WITH MA]
THE INTERVIEW WAS IN COMPARATIVELY LOW KEY THROUGHOUT. IT WAS NOTICEABLE THAT HONG KONG WAS ONLY BROUGHT IN LATE IN THE DISCUSSION AND THERE WAS NONE OF THE POLEMIC WE HAVE HAD OVER THE PAST MONTHS ABOUT QUOTE BLOODY SUPPRESSION UNQUOTE AND QUOTE ATROCITIES UNQUOTE. THIS WAS ALSO THE FIRST TIME THAT THE CHINESE HAVE MENTIONED ALL THEIR OUTSTANDING ENTRY VISA AND RESIDENCE PERMIT CASES. MA'S STATEMENT ABOUT THIS (WHICH HE BROUGHT READY PREPARED) CAME IN REPLY TO A REMARK OF OURS ABOUT PRESENT BAD RELATIONS NOT BEING OF H.M.G.'S SEEKING OR MAKING.
2. IT MAY CONCEIVABLY REPRESENT AN ATTEMPT TO EQUATE TREATMENT
OF BRITISH SUBJECTS IN CHINA (INCLUDING YOUR MISSION) WITH TREAT- MENT OF THE CHINESE HERE RATHER THAN EVENTS IN HONG KONG, THOUGH WE SHOULD CLEARLY NOT BANK ON THIS. WE SHALL CONSIDER WHETHER THERE IS ANY WAY IN WHICH WE MIGHT EXPLORE THE POSSIBLE OPENING.
SOSFA
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.O. F.E.D.
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C.O. HONG KONG DEPT
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