CYPHER/CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
FLASH HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (D.T.D.)
Telno 1765
25 November 1967
2 COPY
218
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES Nɔ. 63
27 NOV 1967
HWAYH
CONFIDENTIAL
Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No.1765 of 25 November. Repeated for information to Washington and Singapore.
215 My telegram No. 1759: Hong Kong Border.
Discussion was resumed at Shumchun this afternoon and
agreement was concluded after an extended session.
2.
30
The following practical arrangements were agreed:
(a) Exchange of personnel and opening of Man Kam To bridge
at 1700 on 26 November.
(b) Payment for graves and crops (wording along lines
agreed with you) to be made at 1500 on 27 November.
(c)
Removal of wire fence between Man. Kam To and Lowu by 1 December.
(a) Removal of remainder in time for paddy spring sowing
preparations i.e. by 18 February.
Our side
There was considerable discussion of exact wording. concentrated on insisting on orderly and normal behaviour in British territory and on our right to erect whatever obstacles we wished on our side of the border, while avoiding Chinese fields as far as possible. Full details will follow tomorrow.
4.
An avenue for seeking further consultation on border affairs, if necessary, through NCNA was also mentioned.
5.
We on our side have said that we agree to keep initial publicity to a minimum, if they do. Text of official Press statement will be sent to you directly it is ready for release here. Please ensure that no Press statement is made in London until you have received our proposed Press release and then adhere to the wording of our release.
6.
You will understand that this accord such as it is is
far from a precisely worded agreement. In dealing with these people, it would be quite hopeless to expect anything of that kind; it is impossible to match their processes of thought. Apart from the points calling for specific action,
we have made our other points largely by very plain statements of our intentions in the event of provocation etc. on their part; statements which were accepted non committally (since
the masses' can do no wrong) but which appeared to have been hoisted in all the same. It follows that we must not be surprised if we are misrepresented or double-crossed to a greater or lesser extent sooner or later. Nevertheless if we have to react decisively on the border again, they cannot say they have not been warned.
LAST
REF.
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CONFIDENTIAL
17. To sum up,