CONFIDENTI AL
(N.C.N.A.) about prison visita. I attach a draft telegram
in which the Commonwealth Office concur.
BACKGROUND
3.
The Chinese first raised the question of the film stars
in a conversation with Sir D. Hopson on 31 December in
referring to a report that they were to be deported to Taiwan.
The film stars are under detention in Hong Kong in connection
with the recent troubles in the Colony. In Jammary Sir D.
Hopson advocated a major act of elemency in Hong Kong including
the release of left-wing prisoners as a means of improving
Sino/British relations and sssing the position of Kr. Grey and
the Mission. The Governor of Hong Kong saw grave dangers in
releasing prisoners,in the Colony, but was prepared to agree
to release prisoners on deportation to China in fairly large
numbers if this was thought to be helpful. The two film stars
were considered good candidates and it was therefore agreed
that they should be used as a test case. If the Chinese
accepted them this might open the way to an eventual exchange
of Er. Grey for N.C.M.A. representatives.
"It was agreed that the film stars should be taken to the
border and left on the bridge so that they could eross to
China if they so wished and if the Chinese would accept thom.
Although they had shown no unwillingness to return to China,
they had earlier refused to give any written or oral agreement
to deportation. A few days before the operation the Hong Kong
authorities notified their intentions to the China Herchants
Steam Navigation Company, she a communist-controlled organisation
/dealing
CONFIDENTIAL