CONFIDENCIAL
る。
would be most unwelcome to the Home Office. Furthermore
close surveillance is likely to provoke incidents such as the "Battle of Portland Place" of 29 August, 1967, which in turn may result in counter-action of an unpleasant character in Peking. As the Chinese have demonstrated, they are in a position to impose (and enforce) much more rigorous restrictions
than we are.
(b) Under the Aliens Order, it is also possible to impose "restriction as to residence" on Chinese in categories (C) and (D). Restriction Orders were in fact served on members of
N.C.N.A. last August, but it proved inpossible to enforce then
as the persons concerned took refuge in their houses and we
had no legal right to enter. If they had been apprehended in
the street, it would have been necessary to bring them to court to enforce the Orders; in which case there would undoubtedly have been retaliation against the non-diplomatic staff in our
Mission in Peking or other British subjects. As the Orders
proved unenforceable they were eventually withdrawn. Action
against Chinese in category (D), of whom there are about 2,500
in this country, would also be theoretically possible if it
could be justified as "necessary in public interest". Cn past
form, it is unlikely that the Home Office would agree to this
and in any case it would probably be time-wasting and profitless
as it would not influence the Chiness, to be more reasonable,
rather the contrary.
CONFIDENTIAL
16.