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GO INTO DETAIL ABOUT THE STEPS TO BE TAKEN IF NECESSARY, THOUGH
VERY MUCH HOPE IT WILL NOT COME TO THIS.
INCIDENTALLY THE LAST
E WE MADE SUCH A THREAT IT WORKED (SEE EXCHANGE ENDING WITH F.C.0 TELNO.1170 TO HONG KONG OF 15/11/73).
8. I WOULD NOT WISH TO INITIATE CONTROL ACTION AROUND THE CHINESE
NEW YEAR (28TH JANUARY) WHEN THOUSANDS OF TRAVELLERS CROSS THE
BORDER BOTH WAYS, TO DO SO THEN WOULD CAUSE CHAOS AND GREAT ILL
FEELING ON BOTH SIDES. BUT I PROPOSE TO REVIEW THE SITUATION
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CHINESE NEW YEAR. IN THE ABSENCE OF
ADEQUATE ASSURANCES OR A SUBSTANTIALLY DESCENDING TREND WE WOULD
BE BOUND TO TAKE ACTION (NO DOUBT AFTER GIVING BRIEF NOTICE).
9. I THINK WE MUST NOW TAKE THE FIRST STEP BY MAKING THE APPROACH
OUTLINED IN PARA.5 AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I HOPE YOU WILL AUTHORISE
THE AMBASSADOR TO DO SO IMMEDIATELY AFTER HIS RETURN TO PEKING.
HIS REPRESENTATIONS WILL THEN HAVE THE ADDED FORCE OF HIS BEING
ABLE TO SAY HE HAS RECENTLY SEEN AND TALKED ABOUT THE PROBLEM ON
THE GROUND.
10.
IF YOU AGREE WITH THIS APPROACH, I PROPOSE THAT THE POLITICAL ADVISER SHOULD SPEAK TO THE LOCAL NCNA AT THE SAME TIME, ADDING THAT SINCE WE CONSIDER THE PROBLEM SO SERIOUS, H.M.G HAS ALSO
AUTHORISED THE AMBASSADOR TO RAISE IT AT A HIGH LEVEL IN PEKING.
11. SEE M.1.F.T FOR DETAILED FIGURES.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HKJGD (6)
FED
MVD
PUSD
PS/LORD GORONWY- ROBERTS
MR CORTAZZI
MR MURRAY
COPIES
то
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
6 GRAFTON ST WI
3
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1.