234
En Clair
HONG KONG ΤΟ COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (D.T.D.)
Unnumbered
UNCLASSIFIED
Press
011800 Take one.
Attention Glover.
1 December 1967
Hui
Please pass copy to Far East Section of Foreign Office.
Paragraph following issued 30 November in answer to newspaper questions.
They are sent to you for background information and discretionary use.
Question 1.
Radio Peking said Hong Kong Government were forces to remove all border restrictions last Friday following demands by China. Would government agree they were "forced" to do so?
Question 2. Radio Peking said their demands were put forward at a meeting between Chinese and Hong Kong Government officials at Shum Chun on 1 November. Is this true?
Question 3. Did Chinese Government "force" Hong Kong Government (a) to guarantee safety of Po On inhabitants crossing into Hong Kong? (b) to guarantee these inhabitants rights to study Mao's thoughts? (c) to remove all barricades at Man Kam To bridge and on farmlands owned by Chinese farmers?
(d) to pay compensation for losses to Chinese peasants following re-erection of barricades? (e) to release the 5 Communists captured on border? (f) to compensate the graveyard damages at rear hill of Man Kam To? Were they agreed" or "forced" to agree to these demands.
Question 4. Peking Radio said that on 20 October China lodged a "strong protest" to Britain about barricades which Hong Kong Government had erected on Chinese farmers lands. Is this true.
More.
Informs.
Sir D. Trench
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
C.O.
H.K.D.
News Dept.
I. & G.D.
F.0.
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 63
-4 DEC1967
HWB
SSSSS
F.E.D. J.I.R.D.
J.I.P.G.D.
O.L.A. O.P.A.
DIS. MOD.