COPSTORECTAL
3
Mission in the same way as other diplomatic missions, (e.g. a 121 mile travel limit with como extensions to pleoca
of tourist interest). An indication was given in late.
November that exit visas would be granted normally but this
came to nothing. At the same time the Chinese Vice Minister
made it clear that the root-cause of difficulties in our
relations was Hong Kong and they could not be resolved unless
we mot Chinese demands including the release of all prisoners.
6. On 24 January however a more junior official indicated
.. that if we were prepared to lift the remaining restrictions on
thoir Mission and officials in London, i.e. grant complete
freedom of entry and exit, they "would certainly nako
corresponding gestures", For the first ting no mention wae
made of Hong Kong as the crucial factor. On 7 February,
3ir D. Hopson was authorised to inform the Chinese that we would
be willing to suspend the provision for exit visas for all
Chinese officials on the understanding that difficulties would
not be made about exit for our staff and that entry visas
would be dealt with in the normal woy with the cxception of that
for N.G.N.A. which we would only allow if there was Bong
indication of progress over the Reuters correspondent,
Hr. Grey (see sep rate annex about British subjects in China).
Sir D. Ropson was given discretion to present the package in
whatever way he thought most suitable. In the event, the
intervica went in such a way that the Chinese were left to give
us on assurance that they would act before we committed
ourselves to do so here. This produced no response.
17.
CONFIDENTIAL