CYPHER/CAT A
IMMEDIATE HONGKONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 333
CONDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
OP COPY
366
TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
15 MARCH 1968
RCF
354
R.
งาย
979 381
دانا
ARG
RECEIVED IN
.63
12 MARDUO
ADDRESSED CO TELNO 333 OF 15TH MARCH RFI PEKING.
$154)OUR
TELEGRAM 314: PRISON VISITS.
HWB 3/2
AGREEMENT WAS EVENTUALLY REACHED ON NEUTRAL MEETING-PLACE AND TALKS
TOOK PLACE YESTERDAY.
20
THE NCNA CHEADED BY LIANG SHAN-YUAN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR) PRODUCED
A LIST OF 20 ''PATRIOTIC JOURNALISTS' IN ADDITION TO 2 NONA
PRISONERS, AND THE NAMES OF 14 VISITORS. THEY PROPOSED THAT
2 NCNA REPRESENTATIVES PLUS 2 REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH NEWSPAPER
SHOULD VISIT PRISONERS NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT IN GROUPS ACCORDING
TO THEIR EMPLOYERS. SPECIAL ROOMS SHOULD BE PROVIDED FOR VISITS,
AND NORMAL REGULATIONS ON LENGTH OF VISITS AND ENTRY PROCEDURE
SHOULD NOT APPLY. SOMEONE FROM THE P.A'S OFFICE SHOULD BE PRESENT
AT THE PRISON TO ENSURE THAT VISITS WERE CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE ARRANGEMENTS AGREED AT THE DISCUSSIONS. GIFTS, INCLUDING
MAO'S WORKS, SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO BE PRESENTED TO PRISONERS.
3. IN REPLY P.A. POINTED OUT THAT OUR PROPOSAL IN PEKING HAD
BEEN TO EFFECT THAT VISITS SHOULD BE PAID TO INDIVIDUALS AND THAT
VISITORS? NUMBER OF VISITS SHOULD BE TWO ONLY. NONA PROPOSALS WHICH DID NOT
COMPLY WITH THIS WERE PRIMA FACIE UNACCEPTABLE. NEVERTHELESS ME
WOULD REPORT BACK WHAT HAD BEEN SAID, AND IF IT WAS THOUGHT ON
EITHER SIDE THAT A FURTHER MEETING WOULD BE USEFUL IT COULD BE
ARRANGED THROUGH THE USUAL CHANNELS.
4. CHINESE ALSO RAISED QUESTIONS OF FILM STARS AND RICE,
OBJECTING TO ''DEPORTATION OF FORMER, AND REAFFIRMING THEIR
POSITION ON THE GIFT RICE. POLITICAL ADVISER EXPLAINED GOVERNMENT'S
ATTITUDE ON BOTH ISSUES WHILE POINTING OUT THAT HE WAS NOT EMPOWERED
TO TAKE DECISIONS ON EITHER.
5. THE ATMOSPHERE WAS RELAXED AND THERE WAS NO ABUSE. NONA
REPRESENTATIVES ASSERTED THAT THEY DID NOT WANT TO MAKE DIFFICULTIES
BUT THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY DETERMINED TO GET THEIR FULL POUND OF FLESH.
/FOREIGN OFFICE