413
Cypher/Cat A
MEDIATE
Telno 267
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
LAST
REF.
413.
2 April 1968
NEXT
REF.
423
419
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 267 of 2 April. Repeated for information to Hong Kong.
SANNEY
413
Hong Kong telegrams Nos. 397 and 398: Sino British Relations.
I am grateful for these helpful suggestions. I agree in our reply we must be careful to avoid giving anything away on vital Hong Kong issues. On the other hand it is important to avoid a reply so narrowly worded as to give the impression of a rebuff. This would only encourage the hard-liners on the Chinese side and thus do more harm than good. It is of course true, as Hong Kong say, that we have no guarantee of getting any concessions from the Chinese as a result of this statement. Nevertheless we cannot exclude such a possibility indeed it is out objective; and the prospect of obtaining concessions is certainly better if we make a suitable reply, as is our chance of exploring the Chinese position, than if we were to remain silent or rigid. It seems to me therefore important to show ourselves reasonably forthcoming without giving away anything essential and our reply should I think be dressed up with that in mind.
2.
I should, therefore, like to suggest the following amendments to redraft in Hong Kong telegram No. 398:
403
(a) Paragraph 2. Add to first sentence "and recognize the
importance of Hong Kong in this context". We merely recognize a fact by saying this and we give the Chinese nothing to use against us. It is on the other hand a verbal concession to the Chinese point of view which may be useful.
(b)
(c)
"With
Paragraph 3. After "maintenance of an orderly and peaceful society" insert new third sentence. particular reference to the more recent views expressed by the Chinese Government on Hong Kong, the British Government wish to dispel any misunderstanding which may exist about their policies". This is important as a reference to the Chinese' demands of last year. To be of real value our reply must make some bow in that direction.
Paragraph 30 Final sentence. The phrase "provided they do not conflict with the law" raises in sharper form than my draft the question of how far the law allows the activities associated with Mao study. I should prefer the formulation in penultimate sentence of paragraph 4 of my telegram No. 243. In any event in order to make statement as positive as possible I should like to add after "without discrimination" a final sentence such as "within the framework of the law these rights may be enjoyed and will be protected".
/(a)
CONFIDENTIAL