Cypher/Cat A
FLASH HONG KON ΤΟ
Telno 1576
SECHE T
COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
24 October 1967
TOP COPY (J.I.J.) HW
106
ACKET
Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No. 1576 of 24 October. Repeated for information to FULAD Singapore, Peking and Washington.
100
My telegram No. 577: Hong hong Border.
We have now had three preliminary discussions with our usual (and relatively junior) NCNA contact. Border Authorities have through him proposed talks at 1300 hours on 25 October in the inspection Room on the Chinese side of the frontier at Man kam To.
2. we have replied objecting to man ham To and saying that it was understood in Feking that meeting should be in Lo Wu-Shum Chun area.
we proposed an initial meeting on our side or if that is not acceptable alternate meetings on either side. we have also asked for assurances that no Fress or photographers should be present, that size of Chinese Party at the talks should be roughly equivalent in numbers to ours (i.e. 3-4 people) and that there should be no demonstrations.
3.
NCNA contact has been businesslike and nas not so far quarrelled with our counter proposals nor raised political points. He defended choice of man kam To by saying that authorities would "manage" things so that discussions took place in quiet conditions. He will let us know further reactions of Border Authorities as soon as possible.
4. It would be useful if Peking could inform Ministry of Foreign Affairs that initial contacts have been satisfactory, though there are several points to be settled, e.g. about the meeting place; and could then ask for a clear assurance that members of any Hong kong delegation would have safe conduct into end out of China.
Foreign Office please pass Flash to Peking 578 and Priority to Washington 313.
Sir D. Trench
[Repeated as requested?
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