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Hong Kong telegram No. 1699 to Commonwealth Office
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consider that it cannot be carried out in 30 days, but that we shall make a start on the relocation within 10 days of the opening of the bridge and the release of persons. The work would be carried out with all reasonable speed provided there were no interference from the Chinese side. We should be strengthening the main border obstacles simultaneously.
C. Graves.
Chinese have asked for compensation on the basis of:
500 dollars for graves completely lost;
100 dollars for graves to be removed;
20 dollars each for urns to be removed;
Safe access at festival times to one grave which family do not want moved.
Total sum would be about 3,500 dollars.
All this is in line with our normal practice and we are agreeing to it.
Payment will be made to the Ho Pei Production Brigade.
D. Man Kam To.
Chinese have asked for:
(a)
All obstructions to be cleared within 24 hours after conclusion of agreement;
(b)
(၁)
(a)
A guarantee that no similar obstructions would be set up in future;
A guarantee of personal safety of peasants and workers
engaged in production and other normal activities';
A guarantee of the sacred right of peasants to study and propagate the thoughts of Mao Tse Tung.
We propose to reply that 'we agree that our bridge at Man Kam To should be cleared of obstructions within 24 hours of the con- clusion of an agreement. The removal of the obstructions will be timed carefully so that the last obstruction is removed simultaneously with the arrival in British territory of the three policemen, etc. The bridge will not be blocked in future so long as the farmers and others from Chinese territory who cross the bridge conduct themselves to our satisfaction in a peaceful manner. There would of course be no interference by the Hong Kong Government with the personal safety of the peasants and workers from Chinese territory so long as they confine them- selves to engaging in production and other normal activities. There is no question but that they are at liberty while in British territory to study and propagate the thoughts of Chairman Mao amongst themselves so long as they do so in a peaceful fashion'.
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