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RECEIVED IN ARCHIV
No.31
1- JA 308
F013/8
JAMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
Telno 387
31 December, 1967
F58
TOP COPY
UNCLASSIFIED
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 387 of 31 December. Repeated
for information to:
57
Hong Kong.
Your telegram No. 1141.
Prison Visits.
Instructions carried out this afternoon. Reports follow.
Mr. Hopson
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
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CONFIDENTIAL
ER/CAT A
IMMEDIATE FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING
TELNO 1111
29 DECEMBER, 1967
(FED)
р.а
CONFIDENTIAL.
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NO 1141 29 DECEMBER REPEATED FOR
INFORMATION TO HONG KONG.
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 1922: F
VISITS,
WE SEE THE DIFFICULTY ABOUT LINKING SPECIAL VISITS TOO DIRECTLY TO
ACCESS TO GREY: BUT IF WE ARE TO DERIVE ANY BENEFIT FROM THIS FOR GREY
WE THINK THAT AN IMPLIED LINK IS UNAVOIDABLE, AND INDEED DESIRABLE.
2. PLEASE SEEK AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CHINESE AND, REFERRING TO THE NEW
CHINA S-GENCY APPROACH IN HONG KONG, SAY THAT VISITS TO PRISONERS *N
ONLY BE MADE AT THE REQUEST OF THE PRISONER HIMSELF. IF SUCH A REQUEST
IS MADE BY THE N.C.N.A. STAFF IN PRISON IT WOULD, HOWEVER, PROBABLY BE
GRANTED. YOU SHOULD NOT YOURSELF RAISE THE QUESTIONS OF CLOTHING OR
FOOD. IF THE CHINESE DO SO YOU SHOULD SAY THAT THESE ARE MATTERS OF
DETAIL WHICH SHOULD BE DISCUSSED IN HONG KONG. (ON BOTH QUESTIONS WE
AGREE WITH THE LINE IN THE HONG KONG TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE.) IF THE
CHINESE ASK ABOUT VISITS TO OTHER PRISONERS YOU SHOULD RESTRICT YOURSELF
TO SAYING THAT THE PRISONERS THEMSELVES MUST APPLY ACCORDING TO THE
RULES,
3. ONCE THE QUESTION OF VISITS IN HONG KONG HAS BEEN DEALT WITH YOU
SHOULD GO ON TO ENQUIRE ABOUT VISITS TO GREY, BUT WITHOUT SPECIFICALLY
LINKING THE TWO CASES.
A. WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING WHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD NOW BE OFPORTUKE TO
PROPOSE AN EXCHANGE OF GREY FOR THE IMPRISONED N.C.N.A. STAFF MEMBERS.
THIS WOULD OF COURSE INTRODUCE A NEW AND POSSIBLY COMPLICATING FACTOR
INTO THE QUESTION OF PRISON VISITS. MOREOVER THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO
BE SAID FOR KEEPING THIS
/NEW
CONFIDENTIAL
+
CONFIDENTIAL
F.0. TELEGRAM NO. 1141 TO PEKING
-2-
NEW PROPOSAL IN RESERVE IF ARRANGEMENTS FOR VISITS RUN INTO
DIFFICULTIES. ON BALANCE, HOWEVER, WE THINK THERE IS ADVANTAGE IN MAKING
THE SUGGESTION INFORMALLY TO THE CHINESE NOW, WITHOUT COMMITMENT IN THE
FIRST INSTANCE. IF BY ANY CHANCE THEY WERE NOW GENUINELY ANXIOUS TO
DISEMBARRASS THEMSELVES OF GREY, THEY COULD BEGIN CONSIDERING THE TERMS
OF A BARGAIN WITHOUT WASTING TIME CAVILLING OVER THE DETAILS OF VISITS
AND COMFORTS. PROVIDED THEREFORE THAT THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG CONFIRMS
THAT HE HAS NO OBJECTION YOU SHOULD, AS PROPOSED IN YOUR TELEGRAM NO.
375, SUGGEST ON A PERSONAL BASIS AT YOUR MEETING THAT THE BEST ULTIMATE
SOLUTION WOULD BE TO EXCHANGE GREY FOR HSUEH PING. YOU MIGHT INCLUDE LO
YU-HO IN THE BARGAIN IF THE CHINESE SHOWED ANY SIGNS OF RISING TO THE
FLY.
SOSPA
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24/25/67
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¡
Registry No.
DEPARTMENT
FED
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret
FP13/8.
PRIORITY MARKINGS
Confidential
Upetasnified
Electr Immediate
Radtine
(Date).......
• Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should
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P
29/12
12252
ILIPOILLIN LLEI -
PRIVACY MARKING
A Confidence
[Security classification"]
-if any
[ Privacy
Privacy marking
if any
Cypher
Draft Telegram to:-
PEKING
No.
1141
(Date) 29/12
HI
And to:-
CONFIDENTIAL
]
NI
sottendent
[Codeword-if any]
Addressed to
telegram No.
And to
repeated for information to
FIITII|1TM▬▬▬
nmr T'
PEKING
(date) 29 December
יו
--------------------------medited............. --- VYPO
HONG KONG (IMEDIAPE
➖➖➖I'ILLL
ויווויין ייי
IMMEDIATE
"Ropeu, ts----- HONG KONG 2638
Saving to:-
Distribution: Departmental:
FED
C.O.: H.K.D.
Copies to:-
Saving to
-----------------------
Hong Kong telegram No. 1922: Prison Visits.
We see the difficulty about linking special
visita too directly to access to Grey; but if we
are to derive any benefit from this for Grey we
think that an implied link is unavoidable, and
indeed desirable.
2.
Please seek an interview with the Chinese and,
referring to the New China News Agency approach
in Hong Kong, say that visits to prisoners can only
be made at the request of the prisoner himself.
If such a request is made by the N.C.N.A. staff in
prison it would, however, probably be granted. You
should not yourself raise the questions of clothing
or food; if the Chinese do so you should say that
these are matters of detail which should be
discussed in Hong Kong., (On both questions we
agree with the line in the Hong Kong telegram under reference.) If the
Chinese ask about visits to
/other
CONFIDENTIAL
other prisoners you should restrict yourself to
saying that the prisoners themselves must apply
according to the rules.
3. Once the question of visits in Hong Kong has
been dealt with you should go on to enquire
about visits to Grey, but without specifically
linking the two cases.
4.
We have been considering whether or not it
would now be opportune to propose an exchange of
Grey for the imprisoned N.C.N.A. staff members.
This would of course introduce a new and possibly
complicating factor into the question of prison
Moreover there might be something to be
visits keeping
said for/this new proposal in reserve if
arrangements for visits run into difficulties.
On balance, however, we think there is advantage
wiformally
in making the suggestion to the Chinese now,
without commitment in the first instance.
If by
any chance they were now genuinely anxious to
disembarrass themselves of Grey, they could begin
considering the terms of a bargain without wasting
time cavilling over the details of visits and
comforts. Provided therefore that the Governor
of Hong Kong confirms that he has no objection
you should, as proposed in your telegram No. 375,
suggest on a personal basis at your meeting that
the best ultimate solution would be to exchange
Grey for Haueh P'ing. You might include Lo Yu-ho
in the bargain if the Chinese showed any signs of
rising to the fly.
(8430) D4033244 400m
164 G.W.B Lal. Op 343
优告
XII
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56
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY
IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
Telno 383 29 December, 1967
UNCLASSIFIED
R. FIVED IN
FD13/8.
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 383 of
29 December
Repeated for information to:- Hong Kong
Hong Kong telegram No. 1922 paragraph 5. [Prison Visits).
I await your instructions.
Being
send
Mr. Hopson
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To...
..Registry
SUBMISSION ENCLOSURE
File No.
FD 13/7.
The following folios were submitted to:
...S of 5 via ile ilunay.
...3/1/62.
ilussa........
Nos.
A153455757
..........
Signature.
Date
En Clair
IMMEDIATE
FD13/8
FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING
Telno 1131
UNCLASSIFIED
34
TOP CUPI
26 December 1967
(FED)
Addressed to Peking telegram No. 1131 of 26 December, Repeated for
information to Hong Kong.
53
Hong Kong telegram No.1910 tbCommonwealth Office
[of 26 December:
Prison Visits).
Would you see objection to acting as proposed in
paragraph 57
SOSFA
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TELEGRAM SECTION Room 124 K.C.S.
Communtions Department
F.E. DEPT
Please rend wopies of the following telegram
Copy/ies of the following telegram has/have been sent
[*delete as applicable
.0.
О, то
PERING TELNO 1131 26-12-62
TO:
H.K.! N.C.N.A REPORTERS
(Initials)
(Signed) ...
(Department)
(Date)
Apsión teken in Communications Department :
(Date) 2.7-1267.
AFTER ACTION THIS FORM SHOULD BE SENT TO
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Despatched
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54
ILILLLL4iriler ----------SEL
Stampliate o
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NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Draft.
Telegram to:-
Pering
No. 13
[Security classification
if any
[Codeword-if any)]...
Address to
(Date). 26/12 telegram No.
And to:-
Repeat to:-
Hong Kong
2623
En Clair.
Code
Cypher
Distribution:
Departmental
Consulat
F.ED News
Gopres
C...
DD. PUSO
H.K. Depr.
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(4535) W1.45573,46 200m2764 G[W.B°L.{də Gp.863
J.1.R.J,
----------------
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1131
repeated for information to..
Pering
...➖➖➖➖➖➖`ILLIL-+---------hrt.
(date)
gelir.
Hong Kong
Kong.
Hong Kong relegsam
No, 1910 to Commonwealth Office
[Q 26 December: Prison Visits]
Wouw you see objection to
acting as proposed in paragraph 5?
BLC 261
/Xii
Departmental Stato
ine she
t
H
CONFIDENTIAL
acts
F013/8
COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (D.T.D.)
26 December 1967
cypher/Cat A
LATE HONG KONG
TO
Telno 1910
535
CONFIDENTIAL
Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No. 1910 or
26 December,
Repeated for information to Peking
Your telegram No. 2619 son Visits.
ре
I am afraid that it is essential from our point of view to avoid
appearing to discriminate between those Left-Wing prisoners who have
been sentenced for offences against the laws of the colony
The point is that the two and other prisoners in the same prisons.
categories of prisoners are living side by side; and if we were to allow
the Left-Wingers obvious concessions, e.g. the right to wear special
clothing we should simply be asking for trouble.
2.
Again, it is most important to us to avoid lending colour
to imputations that existing arrangements for the welfare of prisoners
are inadequate. They are in fact liberal by any standards. 5. It might,
however, be possible within the existing rules to go some way towards
meeting the NCNA points:-
(1) Clothing. The ordinary prison clothes are supplied in accordance
with a scale laid down by the Director of Medical Services and we could
not allow the NCNA men to wear anything extra. But friends of prisoners
are allowed to send in clothing for individuals to wear when they are
released, on condition the clothes are placed in store; and the NCRA
could, if necessary, be told they might take advantage of this rule.
(ii) Foodstuffs. Christian organizations are from time to time permitted
to send in reasonable amounts of food at Christmas for the welfare of
prisoners. It might be possible to arrange for Chinese organisations to
be permitted to do likewise at Chinese New Year, and again to let the
Communists know in advance
The details would need that they could take advantage of this. carefully
working out, however.
The difficulty in point 1(b, of your telegram under reference could be
met quite easily if we let the NONA know that they might write to the
two prisoners to suggest their asking for a special visit. It would
however be necessary to emphasise that:-
(a) that such visits are personal ones to individual prisoners, and not
anything like visits of inspection to the prison as a whole;
(b) whether or not to approve such visits is a matter solely for the
discretion of the prison authorities.
5. Ir we were now to give a reply to the NCNA here on the lines of
paragraphs 5-4 above we should of course have no guarantee of
/quid pro quo
CONFIDENTIAL
اشند
نة
CONFIDENTIAL
Kong telegram No. 1910 to Commonwealth Office (D.T.D.)
-
2
-
quid pro quo in respect of Grey; the local NCNA would no doubt deny any
knowledge of his position and any responsibility for doing anything
about it. In the circumstances it seems to us there is now a strong case
for Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires making the next move and taking the
problem up with the MFA in Peking. He could perhaps tell them that the
NONA here have asked for certain privileges for their two reporters;
point out that the reporters already enjoy privileges like regular
monthly visits, and the receipt and despatch of letters which have not
been accorded to Grey; and then make the point in paragraph 4 above,
hinting broadly that whether or not discretion was exercised to approve
special visits to the NCNA men at the New Year might well be considered
in the light of what concessions were made to Grey now.
6. There might well be difficulties about the details of such an
approach; but any move here at this stage could involve us in making
unilateral concessions without any guarantee that we should get anything
for Grey.
Foreign Office please pass Immediate to Peking as my telegram No. 677.
Sir D. Trench
[Repeated as requested]
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
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PRIORITY HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (DTD)
Telno 1909
26 December 1967
Mr. Wilson
52
港
ре
k
SECRET
Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No. 1909 of
26 December.
FC. 13/3/13
Repeated for information to Peking.FC
Peking telegram No. 369 to Foreign Office: Reuters.
I should not see objection to an oral approach on the lines of paragraph
5 of the telegram under reference. So far as Hong Kong is concerned,
deportation of Hsueh Ping in exchange for Grey need not present great
problems, provided that every thing possible is done to ensure that he
does not return here in the near or foreseeable future.
2. In general, the more Communists we can get out of the Colony on such
terms, the better. No doubt for tactical reasons it is important to seek
to conclude the most favourable bargain possible over Grey, but if it
proved essential we should not rule out including in the exchange at
least the second NCNA man in prison (Lo Yu-Ho).
Foreign Office please pass Priority Peking as my telegram No. 676.
Sir D. Trench
[Repetition to Peking, referred for
departmental decision]
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CONFIDENTIAL
PROLATE HONG KONG TỤ COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (DTD)
Telno 1922
CONFIDENTIAL
28 December 1967
香
Rr.
(35
берегай
Seperationd
ра
For3/8
Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No. 1922
28 December. Repeated for information to Peking.
FC.13/8/115.
Peking telegram No. 375: Prison Visits.
From our point of view it would be preferable if, in speaking, to the
Chinese on lines of paragraph 5 of our telegram No. 1910,- Her Kajesty's
Charge did not in so many words link permission for an extra visit to
the two NUNA reporters with concessions to Grey; (it might be incorrect
for the prison authorities to take Grey's treatment into account
formally when deciding whether or not to allow the NCNA visit). But the