CONFIDENTIAL
193
pher/Cat A
IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
Telegram No. 232
CONFIDENTIAL
22 March, 1968
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 232 of 22 March, Repeated for information to Hong Kong.
Cradock called on Consular Department this afternoon to press case for exit visas for Mrs. Peters and her children and to explain that Mrs. Holroyd would not be making use of exit visa granted to her earlier on the grounds of her pregnancy. (She has decided to stay with her husband.) He was seen by Ts-ui Deputy Director.
2.
Ts-ui replied that Chinese side had noted question of entry and exit visas but because of obstacles created by the British Government there were some difficulties. Nonetheless, the Chinese had issued some visas for example to Mrs. Tregilgas and they would consider the matter of Mrs. Peters.
3. Ts-ui went on to say Lo-kuei-po had talked about Sino British relations and question of visas on 8 March. Since that time two weeks had gone by but H. M. Government had still not expressed their attitude. The visa question was secondary in the matter of Sino British relations, If H.M.Government made no effort to solve the whole problem, the visa question could not be solved. Sincerity on our part was needed in this matter.
4. In reply Cradock referred to Kao offer of 24 January and our reply of 7 February, which solved or went a long way towards solving, the visa problem. However, on 8 March Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Lo-kuei-po had raised other matters. We had noted what he said.
5.
Ts-ui claimed that Kao had made it clear that visa question was not an isolated one. The Hong Kong problem was crux of Sino British relations. If main problem was not solved how could one solve others? On 8 March Lo-kuei-po had been instructed to raise some demands, Ts-ui was glad to hear H.M. Government had noted what Lo-kuei-po had said. It was important for H.M. Government to express their sincerity and to reply to demands.
Foreign Office pass Hong Kong 161.
Sir D. Hopson
[Repeated as requested]
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CONFIDENTIAL
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