CONFIDENTIAL
575
Cypher/Cat A
MEDIATE
Telno 526
CONFIDENTIAL
PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
5 June 1968
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 526 of 5 June. Repeated for information to Hong Kong.
Since more than two weeks had passed since last issue of exit visas and that for Peters particularly was long overdue, Cradock obtained an interview with Ni (Section Head of Consular Department) on June.
2.
Cradock referred to Chinese failure so far to issue visas to Peters and to those for whom visas were requested on 8 and 13 May i.e. Whitney, Gallagher, Webb, Tregilgas and Miss Quirie. He noted the issue of entry visas but said that new personnel could not come in until some people had been permitted to leave.
3
In reply Ni said that since Lo Kuei-po and Kao had given assurances that visa applications would be dealt with according to normal procedure, the issuing of visas had proceeded in a basically normal way, But abnormality in movement of personnel was caused by Hong Kong suppression of Chinese people there. Abnormal phenomena such as the case of Peters, Whitney and others, were the result of this. Recent vicious acts by the British in Hong Kong had led to difficulties. Movement of personnel was not an isolated question, without a final solution to Hong Kong question other problems could not be solved completely.
4. Cradock said that this statement was in conflict with assurance given earlier e.g. by Kao on 22 April. Ni denied the contradiction, and referred to Chinese issue of visas since April. He said that the movement difficulties had been caused by vicious actions in the period since assurances were given. When asked to specify these acts, Ni referred to protest Note about visit of "Enterprise" (my telegram 487).
5.
Cradock asked whether Ni in the present circumstances meant that visas e.g. for Peters would not (repeat not) soon be issued. Ni said that so far he had no news on this. Cradock said that if visas were not issued very soon we might be forced to the conclusion that British diplomatic agents were being detained in China because of political events. This would be a very serious matter. Ni replied that to draw such a conclusion would be to distort his meaning. Detention of diplomats was contrary to Chinese diplomatic practice.
6. Cradock said that in that event he looked forward to the issue of visas in the next few days. This would prove that he had drawn the wrong conclusion. The solution of these difficulties was simple and lay with Consular Department.
LAS!
REF.
576
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 63
-6 JUN1968
инож
17.