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dealing with travel to China. The film stars were taken to
the border on 14 March but after considerable discussion with
Chinese officials they eventually returned (to detention in
Hong Kong) the next day. (Hong Kong telegram No. 338). Om
15 March the Chargé d'affaires was summoned to the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs in Peking (Peking telegram ño. 207) to
receive a "serious protest" from the Chinese Government about
our attempt forcibly to deport the film stars and a demand
that they be declared innocent and set free and that in future
they should not be sent anywhere outside Hong Kong against
their will. In replying, Sir D. Hopson reminded the Chinese
that it was they who had first raised the question of the film
stays and that in seeking to deport them the Hong Kong Govern-
ment were trying to relieve tension. The Chinese on the other
hand were making propaganda ospital out of the incident ard
rendering the solution of our mutual problems more difficult.
The Governor in Hong Kong telegram No. 344 states that he
thinks the best way of following up the incident and trying
turn it to our advantage would be to pursue very much the same
line taken by Sir D. Hopson, more in sorrow than in anger.
The detailed line he proposes is given in paragraph 4 of this
telegram.
5.
The Governor suggests that the Chinese should be approached
simultaneously in Peking and zondon and in Hong Kong through
the China Kerchants Steam Navigation Company and through a
delicate Bank of China channel referred to in Hong Kong Top
Secret telegram ko. 331 (withdrawn from circulation and not
therefore attached). He doubts whether we should use the
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/talks