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IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (D.T.D.)
Telno 1722
21 November, 1967
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Addressed to C.0. telegram No. 1722 of 21 November, Repeated for information to POLAD Singapore and Peking.
197
My telegram No. 1712: Hong Kong Border.
In their story of 21 November about Senior Inspector Knight's Press conference, South China Morning Post say that 'it now seems appropriate to disclose that behind the scene negotiations have been going on to obtain Mr. Knight's release in exchange for five Chinese Communists arrested in British territory several times high Government officials and senior police officers have met in the New Territories and discussed terms'.
2. If asked to comment on this, we are sticking to the line in
(176) paragraph 2 of our telegram No. 1658.
Foreign Office please pass Priority to Peking 622,
Sir D. Trench
[Repetition to Peking referred to Departmental decision.]
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
C.O. Hong Kong Dept.
I. & G.Dept.
F.E. & P.D. Defence Dept.
News Dept. J.I.R.D.
J.I.P.G.D.
F.0. Far Eastern Dept,
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