6
CONFIDENTIAL
HONG KONG
HONG KONG
PEKING (IMMEDIATE)
PEKING (IMMED.)
Departmental:
F.E.D., F.0. H.K. & West Indian Dept. 'C'
C.O.
Your tel. No. 338: Lau Fau Shan incident.
For the reasons given in Peking tel. No. 297, we
think that we should not, repeat not, raise the matter
in Peking at present, even if Hopson should be
summoned by the Chinese to receive a protest about
the visit of American ships.
We would
2. We agree, however, that you should, if you
consider it essential, take firmer action.
hope that this will prove effective. We agree that
the action suggested in para. 3 of your tel. No. 338
involves a serious risk of escalation. We suggest
therefore that you should not automatically treat
these intruders as illegal immigrants but, if they give
cause, detain them for, e.g., disorderly behaviour and
return them immediately to the mainland.
3. If these incidents should continue on a larger
and more militant scale then, subject to confirmation
from here, we agree that Hopson should seek an
/interview