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CYPHER/CAT A
SECRET
FLASH FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG.
29 JANUARY 1969 (1K);
TELEGRAM NUMBER
48
SECRET
VISIT OF MR ANTHONY ROYLE, M.P
.
P COPY
ROYLE CALLED ON LORD SHEPHERD ON 8 JANUARY.
IN SCUSSION ABOUT HIS IMPENDING VISIT, HE SAID THAT ON PREVIOUS VISITS TO HONG KONG HE HAD SOMETIMES TAKEN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO MACAO TO LUNCH WITH HO YIN. HE HAD FOUND THIS CONTACT PARTICULARLY VALUABLE. ON THE LAST OCCASION (ACCOMPANIED BY Q.W. LEE) HE HAD BEEN GIVEN VERY ACCURATE INFORMATION ON COMMUNIST INTENTIONS IN HONG KONG. BUT HE WOULD ONLY CONSIDER GOING TO MACAO IF ''SECURITY AUTHORITIES'' THOUGHT IT WOULD NOT BE IMPRUDENT FOR HIM TO MAKE
JOURNEY.
2. LORD SHEPHERD SAID THAT IN HIS VIEW MEETING MIGHT BE OF SOME VALUE SINCE IT WOULD GIVE ROYLE OPPORTUNITY TO PROBE CHINESE INTENTIONS REGARDING GREY: HE STRESSED, HOWEVER, THAT IT WAS ESSENTIAL NO IMPRESSION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO HO YIN THAT MEETING HAD
IN ANY WAY BLESSING OF H.M.G. IT VAS AGREED YOU SHOULD BE ASKED
IF ARRANGEMENTS COULD BE MADE.
3.
ALTHOUGH HO YIN WAS OF USE TO US DURING THE 1962 REFUGEE INFLUX, WE FEEL SOME DOUBT ABOUT THE VALUE OF CONTACTS WITH HIM TODAY IN RELATION TO HONG KONG AFFAIRS AND SOME UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE POSSIBLE CHINESE REACTION TO AN ADDITIONAL APPROACH ON GREY WHICH MIGHT BE INTERPRETED AS OFFICIALLY PROMPTED.
4. IN VIEW OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS OVER THE GREY CASE, LORD SHEPHERD NOW FEELS THAT THE PROPOSED MEETING MIGHT BE UNDESIRABLE. IF YOU AGREE WITH THIS ASSESSEMENT HE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD INFORM ROYLE ACCORDINGLY EXPLAINING THE DIFFICULTIES AND DANGERS INVOLVED, BUT IF, ON FULL CONSIDERATION, YOU JUDGE THAT NO HARM IS LIKELY TO RESULT, LORD SHEPHERD WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF THE NECESSARY STEPS TO ARRANGE THE MEETING COULD BE TAKEN. YOU WILL NO DOUBT FEEL THAT YOUR PART IN THIS SHOULD BE CONFINED TO DROPPING A HINT IN AN APPROPRIATE QUARTER, LEAVING IT ENTIRELY TO UNOFFICIAL CIRCLES TO MAKE THE ARRANGEMENTS AND AVOIDING ANY OFFICIAL
INVOLVEMENT.
MR. STEWART.
FILES:
H.K.D.
F.EASTERN D.
SIR A. GALSWORTHY
SIR J. JOHNSTON
MR. MORETON
P.S. LORD SHEPPERD
SECRET
الله
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