CONFIDENTIAL
Cypher/Cat A
IMMEDIATE
Telno 225
PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
20 March 1968
CONFIDENTIAL
386
TOP COPY
HW
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 225 of 20 March Repeated for information to Hong Kong.
381
Hong Kong telegram No. 354:
Prison Visits,
I agree for the time being at least we should maintain our position on points in paragraph 1 and paragraph 3 of telegram under reference. I agree concession on 1(b) would be dangerous, The request for gift of Mac's works might be met by pointing out that these can be sent under normal rules for reading matter (if this is in fact the case. See Hong Kong telegram No. 670 to me of 1967).
2. I agree that we should make definite proposal of a first visit on the lines acceptable to us. I think it would be best to do this fairly soon rather than to wait because of deportation issue. If NCNA reject the proposal I could go back to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, re-affirming our readiness to arrange visits as stated at the interview of 1 March and point out that NCNA are seeking to add new terms to agreement reached in Peking.
Foreign Office please pass Hong Kong Immediate 157.
Sir D. Hopson
[Repeated as requested]
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