268
EN CLAIR
HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
ELNO. 723
UNCLASSIFIED
6 June, 1968
HW
ADDRESSED CO TELNO 723 OF 6TH JUNE RFI PEKING WASHINGTON AND
SAVING PA SINGAPORE.
1263
MY TELEGRAM 710 : BORDER INCIDENT.
THE FOLLOWING REPLY TO THE 'PROTEST' HANDED TO THE POLITICAL
ADVISER ON 1 JUNE WAS DELIVERED TO THE NCNA ON THE AFTERNOON OF
4 JUNE.
BEGINS: YOUR HESSAGE OF 1 JUNE HAS BEEN VERY CAREFULLY CONSIDERED.
WE HAVE ALREADY EXPRESSED REGRET FOR THE ACCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED
01. 29 MAY AND HAVE GIVEN YOU ASSURANCES WHICH MEET IN PRINCIPLE
THE POINTS RAISED BY THE FARMERS. THESE ASSURANCES HAVE BEEN GIVEN
IN GOOD FAITH AND WE ARE UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHY, IF YOU ARE
EQUALLY SINCERE, THE ASSURANCES SHOULD BE REGARDED AS UNACCEPTABLE.
AS WE HAVE STATED ON MANY OCCASSIONS IN THE PAST, IT IS OUR
EARNEST DESIRE TO MAINTAIN PEACE AND TRANQUILITY IN THE BORDER
AREAS. WE SHALL CONTINUE TO OBSERVE THE AGREDIENT REACHED AT
LAST YEAR'S BORDÓR TALKS, BOTH IN THE LETTER AND IN THE SPIRIT,
AND WE SHOULD WELCOME A SIMILAR ASSURANCE FROM THE APPROPRIATE
CHINESE AUTHORITIES.
ENDS.
2. THERE HAS SO FAR BEEN NO RESPONSE FROM THE N C N A.
FO PLEASE PASS ROUTINE PEKING 273 AND WASHINGTCH 76.
SIR D. TRENCH
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED
FO: F.E.D.
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
CO: H.K. DEPT.
DEFENCE DEPT.
U.N. DEPT.
1.R.D.
I.G.D.
F.E.P.D.
NEWS DEPT.
O.P.A.
Q.L.A.
LAST
REF
S.B.A.D.
DEFENCE DEPT.
P.U.S.D.
NEWS DEPT.
LES M.U.D.
269
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