CONFENTIAL
Cypher/Cat A
IMMEDIATE
Telno 527
PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
5 June 1968
576
CONFIDENTIAL
Copy on HWB2/1
Addressed to roreign Office telegram No. 527 of 5 June. Repeated for information to Hong Aong, FULAD Singapore and Washington.
My immediately preceding telegram (not to all).
This was a much tougher interview than has been usual recently. In contrast with earlier occasions Ni made long direct references to Hong kong he also added serious qualifications to Kao's assurances of normal treatment on visas given
! are to once again we have the hard line.
gy undec]
2.
This is thererore a distinct setback on visas at a time when we thought we were turning the corner, How serious a set back remains to be seen. It is hard to see it more as a warning (that we cannot continue to disregard Chinese susceptibilities over Hong Kong and continue to get visas) than a couplece change of course, and would expect a delay before any new exit visa once issued rather than a total freeze. But this is always provided that there is no new incident to inflame relations.
3.
Ni made it crystal clear that inmediate cause of this set back is the visit of Enterprise. I think it a great pity this visit was allowed, but i hope that at least we shall be able to take full account of its consequences in present review of United States Naval visils.
Foreign Orrice pass Immediate to Hong hong 379, Friority to POLAD Singapore 150 and washington 130.
Sir D. Hopson
Repeated as requested]
[Note by Communications Dept: Check and repeat of last
sentence of paragraph 4 requested]
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