CYPHER/CAT A
989
CONFIDENTIAL
OMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG
TELNO 531
CONFIDENTIAL.
22 MARCH 1968 (HKD)
ADDRESSED TO HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 531 OF 22 MARCH REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING.
YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 344: FILM STARS.
WE AGREE WITH THE LINE PROPOSED IN YOUR PARAGRAPH 4. WE CONSIDER, HOWEVER, THAT THE REFERENCE TO NCNA SHOULD BE OMITTED IN ORDER THAT THIS EXERCISE MAY BE KEPT SEPARATE FROM THE QUESTION OF PRISON VISITS WE ENTIRELY AGREE IT SHOULD BE KEPT OUT OF THE POLITICAL ADVISERS TALKS ON THAT SUBJECT.
2232. HOPSON'S ARGUEMENTS IN PARAGRAPH 1 OF PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 223
AGAINST PURSUING THIS THROUGH FORMAL CHANNELS SEEM TO US CONVINCING. BY HANDLING IT INFORMALLY THROUGH THE CHANNEL REFERRED TO IN YOUR TS.) TELEGRAM NUMBER 331 WE MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE CHINESE TO CONSIDER
THE PROPOSITION WITHOUT STRIKING AN ATTITUDE: AND IT WOULD INVOLVE NO COMMITMENT FOR EITHER SIDE AT THE INITIAL STAGE. WE DOUBT THE VALUE OF USING THE CHINA MERCHANTS STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY FOR THE REASONS GIVEN IN PARAGRAPH 3(C) OF YOUR TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE. WE CONSIDER THEREFORE THAT INITIALLY WE SHOULD USE ONLY THE CHANNEL REFERRED TO IN YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 331.
3. WE ARE STILL EXAMINING THE QUESTION OF A REPLY TO THE CHINESE VICE MINISTER'S STATEMENT OF 8 MARCH ON SINO/BRITISH RELATIONS, WHETHER PUBLICITY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE TROUBLES OF THE MISSION AND MR GREY WILL BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN THIS CONTEXT. IN THE MEANTIME THERE WOULD BE EVERY ADVANTAGE IN YOUR GOING AHEAD AS PROPOSED ABOVE,
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