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EN CLAIR
IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
TELNO. 781
UNCLASSIFIED
26 AUGUST 1968
ADDRESSED F.O. TELNO 781 OF 26 AUGUST, RFI HONG KONG.
I WAS SUMMONED TO THE FOREIGN MINISTRY THIS AFTERNOON TO
RECEIVE A PROTEST FROM HSUEH (DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF WESTERN
EUROPE) ABOUT THE DEREGISTRATION OF CHUNG WAH SCHOOL.
ACTIVITIES.,
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ни
2. IN AN ORAL STATEMENT HSUEH SAID THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES
HAD DISREGARDED THE STERN WARNING OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT OF
3 AUGUST AND ON 14 AUGUST HAD ANNOUNCED THEIR DECISION TO
CANCEL REGISTRATION OF CHUNG WAH SCHOOL. THIS WAS A GRAVE
INCIDENT WHICH AMOUNTED TO WILFUL PERSECUTION OF CHINESE
PATRIOTIC EDUCATIONAL UNDERTAKINGS AND COULD ONLY LEAD TO RENEWED
TENSION IN HONG KONG. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAD LONG AGO
MADE CLEAR THAT COMPATRIOTS HAD THE INVIOLABLE RIGHT TO STUDY
AND PROPAGATE MAO'S THOUGHT IN HONG KONG AND CARRY OUT RELATED
IN. NOVEMBER 1967 THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES HAD
CLOSED THE SCHOOL ON A PRETEXT ABOUT AN EXPLOSION, ARRESTED
THE HEAD MASTER AND DEPRIVED HUNDREDS OF TEACHERS AND STUDENTS
OF THE RIGHT TO TEACH AND STUDY. NOW THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES
WERE DEREGISTERING THE SCHOOL UPON A SPECIOUS PRETEXT. THIS
WAS A GRAVE NEW POLITICAL PROVOCATION. HSUEH SAID THAT THE
CHINESE GOVERNMENT WAS VERY INDIGNANT AND THAT HE WAS INSTRUCTED
TO LODGE A SERIOUS PROTEST. THE BRITISH SIDE WERE ALWAYS
TALKING GLIBLY ABOUT THEIR DESIRE TO EASE SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS
AND TO SETTLE OUTSTANDING DIFFERENCES. HOWEVER IN FACT THEY
INDULGED IN REPEATED BRAZEN PROVOCATION AGAINST THE CHINESE
PEOPLE AND THEIR COMPATRIOTS. THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES WOULD BE
FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONSEQUENCES.
RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES: KAK* 27 1926
HWA 9/11
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/3. IN REPLY