Cypher/Cat A
KIAL
IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
Telno. 174
8 March 1968
Г.
342
....
12 MAR 1963
HwB3/2
CONFIDENTIAL
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 174 of 8 March, Repeated for information to Hong Kong, Washington and Singapore and Saving to Paris.
I called on Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Lo Kuei-po at his request this morning when he made a statement on instruc- tions from Chinese Government. The essence of his statement was that Hong Kong situation was crux of Sino British relations and that British Government must reply to various demands put forward by Chinese Government on this subject. Only after that would it be possible to discuss other problems e.g. restoration of normal movement for staff of missions, trade, cultural etc. There was no (repeat no) concrete reply to proposals we made on visas and Grey on 7 February.
2. We must therefore consider "offer" made by Mr. Kao on 24 January as dead and we are right back where we began.
The
2 visas issued yesterday should be seen, as Blishen visas in December, as a Chinese attempt to present a slightly less inhuman image.
3. Full report and comments follow.
Foreign Office pass Hong Kong 113, Singapore 58, Washington 46, Saving Paris 3.
Sir D. Hopson.
[Repeated as requested]
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.E.D.
News Dept.
Consular Dept.
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I. & G.D.
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DDDDD
LAST
REF
CONFIDENTIAL
341
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
3 43.
144 +349