elements of a bargain could probably be made pretty clear to the Chinese
without actually spelling the matter out.
2. We would also hope that the point would be made that the actual
request for the NCNA visit must come from the prisoners. There is some
evidence that pro-Communist prisoners are becoming disillusioned about
their former associates; and we need to have a safeguard against
Communists outside prison pressing their attentions on prisoners who do
not want to receive them.
3. We would see no objection to Her Majesty's Charge speaking on
clothing as he suggests. On foodstuffs, however, there appear on further
examination to be real difficulties. If the Communists were to be
permitted to send in food parcels to prisoners at large they would be
presented with something out of which they could make substantial
propaganda capital; while to allow them to send parcels to the NCAA
reporters only would be very difficult to justify in principle. It might
be best therefore for Her Majesty's Charge to avoid this issue if he can
manage to do so, and to concentrate on the general issue of visits.
... Un the general issue, to arrange for the two NCNA prisoners to be
housed separately would involve considerable practical difficulties, in
any case it would not be possible to find any convincing public
justification at this late stage for suddenly affording them special
treatment.
5. The NCNA are now pressing us for an early reply. We shall do our best
to stall until the matter has been discussed in Peking; but from our
point of view the sooner it is raised there the better.
Foreign Office please pass Immediate to Peking as my
telegram No. 679.
Sir D. Trench
[Repetition to Peking, referred for
departmental decision]
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
0.0. H.K.Dept.
F.O. F.E.D.
Consular Dept. News Dept.
News Dept. J.1.R.D.
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
CONFIDENTIAL
:
2. DEC 1962
FP13/8
Cypher/Cat A
MELTATE
Telno. 1908
CONFIDENTIAL
HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
CONFIDENTIAL
23 December 1967
M. Hace (51)
(26/12)
Pe
Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No. 1908 of 23
Repeated for information to Peking.
December
A member of the NCNA passed the following message 22 December:
to us on
Vie are
we are instructed by letter of the NČNA to ask you to convey the
following request to the proper authority. preparing to send two
representatives from the NCNA to pay a visit to our staff reporters now
at Stanley some time around the New Year. The representatives will bring
winter clothing and foodstuffs. We have also been asked by the schools,
trade concerns, trade unions and other organisations to act on their
behalf in asking for similar arrangements to be made for their
representatives to visit the prisons, detention campe. Two
representatives will represent each organisation and they can go on
separate dates 28 arranged between you and us'. He asked for an early
reply. He telephoned later to say that the second sentence should have
read:
we are preparing to send two official representatives frop NCNA to pay a
visit to our staff reporters as well as the reportera of other
newspapers that are now at Stanley and at other prisons sometime around
the New Year'
2.
Our prison rules are as follows:-
(a) no persons other than relations and friends shall be allowed to
visit prisoners except by special authority; visits may be made once a
month, but extra visite can be approved. Although there is no rule to
this effect, there is a standing order that requeate for an extra visit
must originate with the prisoner.
(b) the rules provide that a prisoner may receive and send one letter
every four weeks, unlimited number of letters.
In practice he may receive an There would therefore be little
difficulty for NCNA in prompting a prisoner to request an extra visit.
(c) there is no provision under the rules for clothing and foodstuffs to
be presented to a prisoner
3. It seems very likely that this is an attempt to get a large quid pro
quo from us in return for a concession to Gray. ho have had intimatione
from secret sources that a propaganda campaign about the prisoners was
to be developed around the New Year. A great deal of play could be made
of the "Comfort Missions" implied in the second half of the message;
though the penultimate sentence might mean that the Communiata are
suggesting that the whole exercise could be phased over a period of
time. In any event we cannot openly give preferential treatment to left
wing prisoners since this would have an extremely bad effect on the
morale and discipline of other prisonera.
CONFILENTIAL
140
CONFIDENTIAL
HƯNG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 1908 TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
-2-
I do not think that in any circumstances we could go outside the prison
rules and e.g. agree to visitors bringing
But I would not exclude clothing and foodstuffe,
initially agreeing to a visit by two NONA officials to their two staff
reportere, if it could be arranged in accordance with the rules. It
would be open then to Her Hajesty's Chargé d'Affaires in Peking to
report developments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and request again
access to Orey. As far as visits to other prisoners in Hong Kong are
concerned, I would prefer to do no more than tell the NCNA what the
rules
arc.
Foreign Office please pass Immediate to Peking as my tele- gram No. 675.
Sir D. Trench
(Repetition to Peking referred
for departmental decision)
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
CO Hong Kong Dept.
Int, & Gen. Dept.
Far East Pacific Dept. J.I.P.G.D.
J.I.R.D.
FO Far Eastern Dept.
DD & P.U.S.D.
News Dept.
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
CONFIDENTIAL
I
Cypher/Cat A
CONFIDENTIAL
IMMED TE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
Telno 372
RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES No.31
25 DEC 1967
25 December 1967
FD13/8
F
50
TUP CONT
CONFIDENTIAL
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 372 of 25 December. Repeated
for information to Hong Kong.
Hong Kong telegram No. 1908 to Commonwealth Office and your telegram No.
2619′ to Hong Kong: Prison Visits.
I agree with the comments in your telegram under reference. I think a
distinction must be drawn between the proposed visits to the NCNA staff
and those to other prisoners and I very much hope that the Governor will
find it possible to allow visit plus food and clothing for NCNA
prisoners. Otherwise I see no chance of our getting a visit or probably
even another parcel to Grey. I realize this means discriminatory
treatment; but the Chinese have made it plain that Hseh Ping at least is
Grey's opposite number, so that progress with Grey's case means
recognizing that Hsch Ping, and possibly other NCNA prisoners, are in a
special category.
2. Again I hope we do not press the requirement that extra visits should
be at prisoner's own request. We have no communication with Grey and if
such a rule were applied here he would be unable to make his wishes
known.
3. If, as I hope, a visit with comforts to the NCNA prisoners is
allowed, I would, as suggested by the Governor, report to the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs again requesting access to Grey,
Foreign Office pass Immediate Hong Kong 193.
Mr. Hopson
[Repeated as requested]
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
F.O. F.E.D.
News Dept.
Consular Dept.
D.D. & P.U.S.D.
C.O. H.K. Dept.
I. & G. Dept. F.E. & P.D. J.I.P.G.D. J.I.R.D.
Q9Q2Q
CONFIDENTIAL
Saperate deci
ра
pa tes
+
FD138
CONFIDENTIAL
CYPHER/CAT A
IMMEDIATE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG (D.T.D.)
TELNO 2619
CONFIDENTIAL
23 DECEMBER 1967
19
(F)
See Sus
ADDRESSED TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO.2619 OF 23 DECEMBER REPEATED
FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING.
YOUR TELEGRAM NO.1988: PRISON VISITS.
WE SHARE YOUR GENERAL ASSESSMENT OF THE CHINESE TACTICS. IN THE CASE OF
THE TWO NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY STAFF REPORTERS, WE HAVE HOWEVER TWO
PRELIMINARY COMMENTS.
(A)
IT WOULD BE A PITY IF, AS THE RESULT OF A DIRECT REFUSAL TO ALLOW
CLOTHING AND FOODSTUFFS TO GO TO THE STAFF REPORTERS, GREY WERE TO E
REFUSED FUTURE COMFORTS. (IT MAY BE SIGNIFICANT THAT, AS REPORTED IN
PEKING TELEGRAM NO.312, THE CHINESE TOOK THE INITIATIVE IN INFORMING OUR
MISSION THAT THEIR PARCEL HAD BEEN DELIVERED TO GREY). WE FULLY
RECOGNISE THAT THE TWO CASES ARE NOT PARALLEL IN THAT YOU ARE MERELY
APPLYING STANDARD RULES TO CONVICTED PRISONERS, WHILE THE CHINESE HAVE
NOT EVEN PREFERRED CHARGES AGAINST GREY. BUT THIS IS A DISTINCTION WHICH
THE CHINESE WILL CERTAINLY REFUSE TO MAKE. IS IT QUITE OUT OF THE
QUESTION TO ACCORD THIS PRIVILEGE TO THE STAFF REPORTERS, WHILE
WITHOLDING IT FROM OTHER PRISONERS?
(B)
WE WOULD HOPE THAT, IN THE CASE OF THE STAFF REPORTERS, IT MIGHT NOT BE
NECESSARY TO INSIST ON THE REQUIREMENT THAT REQUESTS FOR EXTRA VISITS
MUST ORIGINATE WITH THE PRISONER, IT COULD OF COURSE STAND FOR THE OTHER
PRISONERS.
2. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND THOSE OF THE CHARGE
D'AFFAIRES IN PEKING.
CROSEC
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.O. F.E.D.
NEWS DEPT.
CONSULAR DEPT.
0.0.
H.K. DEPT.
FFFFF
L.W.
CONFIDENTIAL
TELEGRAM SECTION
Room 124 K.C.S.
Communications Department
F.E.D
*Please send copies of the following telegram
*
Copy/ies of the following telegram has/have been sent
(* delete as applicable)
TO:
619 to Stong Kong (ott) 23/%7
Stong Kong. N.C.NA Reporters Disti
(Signed)
(Department).......
(Date).....
(Initials)......
Action taken in Communications Department:
سلام
(Date) 27 ( 67
AFTER ACTION THIS FORM SHOULD BE SENT TO
THE APPROPRIATE ARCHIVES DIVISION FOR RETENTION
156397 500 Pada 2/66-McC & Co Ltd-K.16430 (9609)
YTC/1
1325123
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry No.
DEPARTMENT
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION PRIORITY MARKINGS
Top Secret
Secret
Confidential
Restricted
Unclassified
Flash
Immediate Priority Routine
• Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should
reach addresses(z).
700
53/12
(49
---------
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
En Clair. Code Cypher
Draft Telegram to:-
No. 2619
(Date)
And to:-
عاد
CONFIDENTIAE
+
[Secur
Security classification"
if any -if
[
Privacy marking --if any
1
------
[Codeword-if any]
Sovannar Hong Kong
Addressed to
telegram No. 2619
L
(date)
23 December
And to
3/12 repeated for information to Peking (IMMEDIATE)]
Repeat toe PEKIJK 1127
Saving to:- Mr Carter (c...) Osve
Distribution:-
FO. FE.D.
Hans deft
C.o.
H.K.B Copies to:
Irr
LILI-LIN
-
Saving to
-------
--1-1
י-י-י- T
Juur tel No 1908 [4/23 Des]: Prison visits.
We share
general assessment of the
youn general
Chaiene tasting.
Света
In the
the cast
of the two
Nus
China News Agency staff reporters, we haver Lowear
fure proliminary comments.
(a) It would be a
бра
pety if, as the result of a
direct reghoul to allows clothing and foodstuffe
to
So
to the staff reporters, SREY were to be refused future conforts. (It may
significant that, as reported
No 317.
все
Pching tax
the Chinese tooth the initiative in
informing
on maccion
that this parreal had
been delivers
to
to SREY). We fully muge
that/
L
I
1
that the two casso
that
not parallel in
You are merely efflying standard be
I convicted prisoners, while the Chiness £
have not even profered changes against
Sky
But this is
chistration whind the
thier will certainly refers to wanker.
13
it quite out of the question to accoal thai
similege to the staff reporter.
?
witholeling it from other prisoners?
(6) Header Life that, in the case
Shil
7
the
stop reports, it might not be missing
I insistin
the
regorii
blat requeste поднять
not originate with the
prisoner.
It could of
cowy?
stand for
the other
produs.
bike should be grateful for your commente
1.
and there of
the Chargé
време.
Oce.
'Affawns in Peking.
(8430) DL081246
G.W.ELLA Op.201
23112
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
4
GYPLET
CYPHER/CAT A
ROUTINE HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 1896
+
RECEIVED IN [ARCHIVES No 31
*2 3 FEB 1968.
13/8
TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
| 21. DECEMBER 1967 Ads.HR.
Be
L FAD.
148A
CONFIDENTIAL ADDRESSED PEKING TELEGRAM 670 OF 21 DECEMBER REPEATED
0.0.
YOUR TELEGRAM 186.
THE RULES ARE THAT PRISONERS MAY SEND AND RECEIVE ONE LETTER EVERY
FOUR WEEKS BUT MAY WITH SPECIAL PERMISSION SEND AND RECEIVE MORE. NO
PARCELS ARE ALLOWED BUT READING MATTER (SUBJECT TO CENSORSHIP) MAY
BE RECEIVED AT ANY TIME.
2. HSUEH PING HAS RECEIVED ONLY ONE LETTER CON 19 DECEMBER) AND SENT
SEPTEMBER NONE OUT. HE HAS RECEIVED ONE BOOK EACH ON 25 AUGUST AND 29
3052-194
TWO EACH ON 7 AND 13 DECEMBER.
3. LUO YU-HO HAS SENT ONE LETTER CON 2 OCTOBER) AND RECEIVED NONE.
HE HAS RECEIVED 3 BOOKS ON 22 NOVEMBER, 14 MAGAZINES ON 13 DECEMBER
11 MAGAZINES ON 14 DECEMBER AND 3 BOOKS ON 19 DECEMBER. NEITHER HE
NOR HSUẸH HAS MADE REQUESTS FOR SPECIAL MAIL FACILITIES OR EXTRA
VISITS.
F.O. PLEASE PASS PEKING 670.
пазва что с
Filo co HiR. D
A FB.
GOVERNOR.
збрках
1 MN. Bates ; File
di I Trendly R. 129
D
3 ADR.
Blasnodal as regte
+ Jop R. 117
8ZXZH
1
SENT 08382 21 DECEMBER 1967
RECD 0843Z 21 DECEMBER 1967
·
J..
14
4
[Signature]
[Date]
DISTRIBUTION
(9780), 232641. 1,200 pad. 1767. (9966), 391758, 1700 PADI.
Code-or Code R
480.
+
3. 09.999/167.
INWARD TELEGRAM
Cypher/OTP Cat A
---
FROM...
Peking
Me Hopson
No.
359
20 DECEMBER
L.FIILIL
DSY 16
D
IOP COPY
[Distribution
Heading]
TO......
F.O
D. 07:30 hrs 2 2012
R$59
[Priority)MMEDIATE
RECEIVED IN [ARCHIV) | Na 3
200EC 1967
L
I
+
Confidential. FD13/8 "Addressed to Hongkong telus 186 Za Decouters
repeated for infern to Foreign Office.
20
Please telegraph details
of mail facilitie's granted to NCNA members serving prison sentences.
How of ton are they allowno' letters and parcell's Do they in fact
receive them?
HongKong to pass immediate 186
торно
زم
هر سینے میں
L
VopySent 716.
pe
عماد
쩝
ADVANCE COPIES TO:-
H.K Ryt
2.29 3 ADL
Tupt 1017
PRIORITY HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTI OFFICE (UTD)
Telno 1845
UNCLASSIFIED
9 December 1967
Addressed to Peking telegram No. 658 of 9 December. Reped for
information to Commonwealth diffice.
Your telegram No. 162.
-F01378 (46
+
I ACEIVED IN
WES NO.31
¡ 1 DEC 1967
| FD13/8
Facts are that at 2010 on 5 December a police party observed that
traffic was being held up outside the Nanyang Theatre by two objects on
the tram tracks. The area was cordoned off in the interests of safety
and when the bomb disposal team arrived they dragged the objects off the
tram tracks and away from the main road. The objects were then
surrounded by sandbags and detonated. No damage of any description was
caused to buildings, motor vehicles or persons. As it happens the place
of detonation was near the Nanyang Theatre and the New China News Agency
Building. The police report that there was no difficulty whatsoever in
keeping the area clear of people and no incidents of any sort arose. No
(repeat no) chemical mace was used. We are quite convinced therefore
that this protest is entirely without foundation and is an attempt by
certain local elements to create trouble for obvious reasons.
C.0. pass Priority Peking No. 658.
Sir D. Trench
[Repeated as requested]
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
C.O.
H.K. Dept.
I. & G. Dept.
News Dept.
F.O. F.E.D.
J.I.R.D.
J.I.P.G.D.
News Dept.
O.L.A. O.P.A.
DIS MOD
I
+
ра
уй
En Clair
PRIORITY PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
RECTIVED IN
47) No.31
Í 1DEL 1967
46
Ino 320
8 December 1967
FD13
UNCLASSIFIED
Addressed to Hong Kong telegram No. 162 of 8 December Repeated for
information to Foreign Office
(4L)
i+5
Your telegrams Nos. 1824 and 1827 to Commonwealth
Office.
As this story about chemical spray has appeared in Hsinhua Item 120618,
I should be grateful to receive authoritative version of the facts.
Mr. Hopson
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.O. F.E.D.
C.G. Hong Kong Dept.
рад
-
EN CLAIR
HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (D.T.D.)
elno 1827
6 December 1967
UNCLASSIFIED
45