they had enough funds in their Bank of China account
to meet the whole sum involved (Seven million
by arraing amat
Singapore dollars), and they secondingly paid this
/su
sum into the Sheriff's Office
(where it still remains)
(manager of the
The local Bank
of China Bemaver at first thanked them for their
load
seoperation in handling this crisis; but later on
-clearly on instructions from Peking, he condemned
the "garnishee" order as illegal and criticised the
Chartered Bank severely for their participation in
"imperialist" plot.
2. The Chartered Bank maintained that they had no
alternative but to obey, the "garnishee" order.
But they recognised that the benefit of
Liimid sight
that it was perhaps unwise for them to take the
lead in the way they did They have so far
derived some consolation from
+
Las
Bank of China in Singapore we
the fact that the
yot not attempt to
push things there to the limit. This they could
Gave some by presenting the Chartered Bank with a
cheque in respect of the sung which the Chartered
Bank has already paid into the Sheriff's Office.
n
The Chartered Bank would have to refuse payment
of the cheque, and would at the very least
exposed themselves to further oriticism from the
Chine
Bank/for not according overdraft facilities.
0327 17 E.W.& S.,Ltd. 164m 3/67.
24 Ang.
7
L
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
CIPHER/CAT A
IDENTIAL
PRIORITY FOREIGN OFFICE 199
TELEGRAM NUMBER 806
CONFIDENTIAL.
ADDI
700
TO PEKING NG
AUGUST 1968 (F) RECEIVED IN
ISED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 806 OF 29 AUGUST REPEATED FOR INFORMATION
TO HONG KONG AND BHC SINGAPORE.
YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 786 : JOHNSTON.
¡ARCIVES No.31
- 3 SEP 1968
THE CHARTERED BANK THINK THAT THE ARREST OF JOHNSTON MIGHT CONCEIVABLY
BE CONNECTED WITH SOME TROUBLE THEY HAVE RECENTLY HAD IN SINGAPORE
INVOLVING THE BANK OF CHINA, DETAILS OF THE AFFAIR ARE IN MY IMMEDIATELY
FOLLOWING TELEGRAM.
2. IF THERE IS INDEED A LINK AND THE CHINESE ARE IN EFFECT HOLDING
JOHNSTON FOR RANSOM, THEY ARE UNLIKELY TO ADMIT THIS TO YOU OFFICIALLY
AND IT CLEARLY WOULD BE UNDESIRABLE FOR YOU TO SAY ANYTHING TO THEM
WHICH MIGHT SEEM TO IMPLY A CONNEXION. ANY INDICATION OF CHINESE
INTENTIONS IS MORE LIKELY TO COME THROUGH THE BANK OF CHINA. YOU MIGHT
HOWEVER, WHEN NEXT YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE MATTER WITH
THE CHINESE, ASK WHETHER THE REASONS FOR WHICH JOHNSTON WAS ARRESTED
RELATE TO HIM PERSONALLY
OR TO THE BANK,
3. THE CHARTERED BANK ARE NOT AT ALL KEEN ABOUT PUBLICITY, WHICH THEY
ARGUE MIGHT BE HARMFUL TO JOHNSTON. (THEIR RELUCTANCE ABOUT PUBLICITY IS
SHARED BY THE HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI BANK). WE HAVE EXPLAINED THAT IF WE
ARE NOT TO BE CRITICISED FOR WITHHOLDING DETAILS OF THE TRUE STATE OF
AFFAIRS IN CHINA FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HERE WE SHALL HAVE TO MAKE
A STATEMENT. WE COULD JUSTIFY DELAY OF UP TO SAY 3 SEPTEMBER TO GIVE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CHINESE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH DETAILS1 BUT A STATEMENT
COULD NOT BE DELAYED MUCH BEYOND THAT. THE CHARTERED BANK ACCEPT THIS
AND WILL PROBABLY ISSUE A PARALLEL STATEMENT.
THE CHARTERED BANK HAVE INFORMED JOHNSTON'S FAMILY OF HIS ARREST ON THE
LINES OF YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 788.
CROSEC
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTLUN
F.E.D.
CONSULAR DEPT.
E.R.D.
8.E,A,D.
NE.../3 DEPT.
01
CONFIDENTIAL
Copy Sent to Ram. 9 Bola.
5
Registry No.
DEPARTMENT
Faoler
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION PRIORITY MARKINGS
Top Spcret
Confidential Raptricted Upalkalled
Flash
lechediate "Priority Routine
(Date).
* Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should
reach addressee(s).
ALLILJO qua|||-|
29/4/58
CYPHER
161)
23302
[A]
X
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
7/
16452
24/18168
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
En Clair. Code
Cypher
Draft Telegram to:-
Peking
No.
(Date)
And to:-
[Secu
Security classification"
--- CONFIDENTIAL
-if any ation]
[ Privacy
Privacy marking -if any
[Codeword-if any]
Addressed to
telegram No...
806
And to
998
1
POKING
(date)
--- L
806
repeated for information to
HONG KONG AND FHC SINGAPORE
SASALARI SELAMAT
Repeat to Hong
Kong
BHC Singapore
5.17
Saving to:-
Distribution Departmental F.E.D.
Consular Dept. E.R.D.
S.E.A.D. News Dept.
for.
Dept.
Saving to
29 lue
Your telegram No. 786 27 August /:
Johnston.
The Chartered Bank think that the arrest of
avigli
Johnston may conceivably be connected with some
trouble they have recently had in Singapore involving
the Bank of China. Details of the affair are in my
immediately following telegram.
indust
2. If there is a link and the Chinese are in
effect holding Johnston for ransom, they are unlikely
to admit this to you officially; and it clearly would
be undesirable for you to say anything to them which
might seem to imply a connection. Any indication of
Chinese intentions is more likely to come through the
Bank of China.
You might however, when next you
have an opportunity to discuss the matter with the
Chinese, ask whether the reasons for which Johnston
was arrested relate to him personally or to the Bank.
The Chartered Bank are not at all keen about
/publicity
3.
I
publicity, which they argue might be harmful to
Johnston. (Their reluctance about publicity is
shared by the Hong Kong Shanghai Bank). We have
explained that if we are not to be criticised for
withholding details of the true state of affairs in
China from the business community here we shall
have to make a statement We could justify delay
of up to say 3 September to give an opportunity for
the Chinese to provide you with details;
statement could not be delayed much beyond that.
The Chartered Bank accept this and will probably
issue a parallel statement.
4.
but a
The Chartered Bank have informed Johnston's of him soment
family on the lines of your telegram No. 780.
032717 E.W.& S.,Ltd. 164m 1/67.
Hans
128 Aug.
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
E
[
CYPHER/CAT-A-
ROUTINE H.C. SINGAPORE
TELEGRAM NUMBER 878
IDENTIAL.
CONFIDENTIAL
100
{ RECEIVED !
ARCHIVES
1968
TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
31 AUGUST 1968
ADDRESSED TO CO TEL NO 878 OF 31 AUGUST REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO
PEKING AND HONG KONG
YOUR TEL TO PEKING NO 897: JOHNSTON
ATTWOOD, LOCAL MANAGER CHARTERED BANK, CALLED ON ME ON 19 AUGUST AND
TOLD ME MUCH THE SAME STORY AS IS CONTAINED IN YOUR TEL UNDER REFERENCE,
(BUT SEE BELOW). HE SAID THAT HIS REASON FOR APPROACHING ME WAS TO ASK
MY PERSONAL OPINION, IN VIEW OF MY PAST ASSOCIATION WITH CHINESE
AFFAIRS, WHETHER THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES WERE LIKELY TO TAKE ACTION
AGAINST THE REMAINING CHARTERED BANK STAFF 1 CHINA. HE SAID THAT APART
FROM SEEKING MY PERSONAL VIEW HE WAS NOT ASKING ME TO TAKE ANY ACTION
AND I THEREFORE DID HOT REPORT THE INTERVIEW.
2. I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS 110 LONGER SUFFICIENTLY IN TOUCH TO EXPRESS ACY
DEFINITE OPINION BUT THAT ALTHOUGH THERE HAD RECENTLY BEEN A RELAXATION
IN PEKING'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS OUR OWN STAFF I WOULD NOT BY ANY MEANS RULE
CUT THE POSSIBILITY OF ACTION AGAINST THE CHARTERED BANK OFFICIALS IN
CHINA.
3. THE ONE POINT WHERE HIS STORY DIFFERED FROM THAT CONTAINED IN YOUR
TEL UNDER REFERENCE IS THAT ACCORDING TO HIM THE CHART- ERED BANK DID
NOT REPEAT NOT TAKE THE INITIATIVE IN MAKING THE OFFER TO MEET THE WHOLE
SUM INVOLVED OUT OF THE FUNDS THEY HELD. HE SAYS THAT THE SINGAPORE
MINISTRY OF FINANCE SUMMONED ALL THE BANKERS INVOLVED AND REQUIRED THEM
TO STATE HOW MUCH BANK OF CHINA MONEY THEY HAD ON DEPOSIT. ALL BUT
/THE
CONFIDENTIAL
+
+
P
CONFIDENTI AL
2.
-
THE CHARTERED BANK HAD RELATIVELY STALL AMOUNTS, WHEREAS
THE CHARTERED BANK HELD SOMETHING OVER 8 MILLION SINGAPORE DOLLARS. IT
WAS, ACCORDING TO HIM, THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE WHO DECIDED THAT RATHER
THAN SPREAD THE LOAD THE WHOLE SUM INVOLVED SHOULD BE TAKEN FROM THE
CHARTERED BANK ACCOUNT.
THE BANK TOOK LEGAL ADVICE AT THE TIME AND WERE THE SATISFIED, AS THEY
ARE NOW, THAT THEY HAD NO OPTION BUT TO COMPLY WITH THE MINISTRY OF
FINANCES ORDERS.
CO PASS PEKING
SIR A. DE LA MARE
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
DEPARTYENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.O. F.E.D.
CONSULAR DEPT.
E.R.D.
S.E.A.D.
NEWS DEPT.
0.0. HONG KONG DEPT.
+
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
Cypher/Cat A
PRIORITY PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
Telno. 786 27 August, 1968
TOP COPY
99
98
CONFIDENTIAL
Fefle
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 786 of 27 August. Repeated for
information to Hong Kong.
Your telegram No. 800: Johnston.
I understand the reluctance to initiate publicity while we are still
making our first enquiries about Johnston in Peking and London, On the
other hand I think it
important that publicity when it comes should be initiated by ourselves
or Chartered Bank and in the form of a prepared statement. Nor do I
think we should delay long. Unless there is an encouraging answer to our
enquiries within the next few days I suggest that we or The Chartered
Bank should make a statement to the Press. This would also be a good
occasion to have publicity on other British residents in Shanghai,
stressing the virtual detention of a community including sick women and
children. I hope you will be able to obtain the bank's agreement on this
course. Failing rapid progress over Johnston, publicity would be likely
to do him and the rest of the community more good than harm.
Foreign Office pass Hong Kong.
Mr. Cradock.
[Repeated as requested]
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.O. F.E.D.
Consular Department. E.R.D.
Research Department.
News Department.
C.0. H.K. Department.
CONFIDENTIAL
Xxxxx
CYPHER/CAT A
IMMEDIATE FOREIGN OFFICE.
TELEGRAM NUMBER 809.
CONFIDENTIAL.
CONFIDENTIAL
TO PEKING,
26 AUGUST 1968.
(FED)
(98)
PIIRIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31
AUG 1968
E74
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 809 OF 26 AUGUST REPEATED
FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG.
Ko/ JOHNSTON. D.J. F?
awaiting arrival of
YOUR TELEGRAMS 778 AND 7881 JOHNSTON.
L-
WE DISCUSSED THIS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CHARTERED BANK THIS
MORNING. THE BANK ARE TAKING ACTION ON YOUR SECOND TELEGRAM UNDER
REFERENCE.
2. THE BANK WILL SEEK INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE FROM BANK OF CHINA AND
CHINESE COMMERCIAL OFFICE HERE. WE SHALL AWAIT THE OUTCOME OF YOUR
APPROACH TO THE CONSULAR DEPT AND MAY THEN
SUMMON SHEN P'ING.
3. MEANWHILE WE DO NOT INTEND TO INITIATE NO PUBLICITY BUT SHALL HAVE TO
CONFIRM THE STORY IF IT BREAKS ELSEWHERE,
4. WE SHALL BE INFORMING SIMON CARVES AND 1.C.1. IN CONFIDENCE
IN CONNEXION WITH THEIR PROPOSED VISIT TO CHINA.
BOSEA.
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.0.
F.E.D.
CONSULAR DEPT.
E.R.D.
RESEARCH DEPT.
NEWS DEPT.
C.0.
H.K.D.
CONFIDENTIAL
+
20788(0.97
COMO
600.0%
хх
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN.
Registry No.
Top Secret.
Secret.
Confidential,
Restricted. Open.
Draft.
FE514
나
Telegram to:-
Sekly
No.
(Date)
And to:
800
26.7.8...
ХХ
EMERGENCY IMMEDIATE
PRIORITY
ROUTINE
with
without
priority
* Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should
reach addressee(s)..
(Date)
----------------
Despatched
DEFERRED
[Sec
Security classification -if any
ion].
---------
268
1216
CONFIDENTIAL.
meblank------¶-a-dub--------
----------
Peking
-LLLIA-----------
(date)..........
26/6.
Hory Kong
Johnston.
Repeat to
Hay Yong
En Clair.
Code
Cypher
Distribution:
Departmental
FED
Consular Dept
E.RD. News Rept
H.K.D
[Codeword if any]
Addressed to............
telegram No....... Soo
--------------------------.
repeated for information to
-LI-LI-
ITIL..
Your telgrams 778 and 780:
We disumed the with Bank repercutiatives of the Chantine Bank
& This moming the Bank
are
taking action
on your
recand telegram under reference.
3. The Bank will such information and assistance
the outcome of youust be
awart good of your
Commercial
from Bank of
bhina
And
Chemere
offere here.
I've shall
approach to the miiting work
вопошел дек
ther
and
may
OH
1100/26
Jumin Mu
LIEN P'ING Then Pring.
3. Meanwhile
publicity but shall
do not intense to shall [mitrate CONFIRM
P
have to confirm the sting
/if it
[
if it breaks dresshere.
ве
•N
un divien harves and
coumeftion with their
A
We shall the infor
7.0.1.
in confidence
fallsemary vist to
Chuna
26 Away.
proposed 2
:
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN.
:
Reference
97
}
AR
29 AUG
FCS14
was
Kr. Derson
1
31
2774
Aus
Mr Musim Sul 26 Arm
Refusal of the People's Insurance Company of China to insure the
risks of atrike, riot and civil commotion.
I have heard from commercial sources in this country that the Chinese
Insurance Company has announced that in future it would not insure
against strike, riot and civil commotion. I understand that similar
reports have been received from other countries including Japan, France
and West Germany.
2. Recently however I received from Dubai a copy of a letter from the
Bank of China to the British Bank of the Middle East giving instructions
to the latter Bank to inform their principals immediately of the change
of policy by the Chinese Insurance Company. I attach a copy of the
letter, should be grateful if it were not published since publication
could damage considerably the British Bank of the Middle East.
Shevant
( J. Sharland) Far Eastern Department
23 August, 1968
|
I
:
:
с
Research Department
Mrs. Newbury (DIS MOD)
I.R.D.
P.U.S.D.
E.R.D.
C.R.E.D. (Board of Trade, Mr. Rogora)
pa
£5/4)
RESTRICTED
FOREIGN OFFICE, S.#.1.
19 August, 1968.
96
95
Thank you for your letter of 11 August about the Bank of China and the
enclosed copy of their notification that the People's Insurance Company
of China has now decided not to insure against strikes, riots and civil
commotion.
2.
I had heard reports of this decision by the Chinese Insurance Company
from British businessmen dealing with China but had not previously seen
a copy of an authentic document. I am most grateful to you therefors for
taking the trouble to send me a copy of this letter.
3. The Chinese insurers show every indication of being absolutely
serious about refusing to insure against these particular risks. This is
causing difficulties for people who regularly trɛde with China in that
they urė obliged to place their insurance with the Chinese company as
far as possible and must now therefore seek separate cover from other
companies for these risks. The expense involved will not be great but
the inconvenience clearly will. I imve as yet received no reports of
anyone cancelling or refusing to undertake business with the Chinese as
a result of this change in commercial policy for blatant political
reasons, but should be most grateful if you would let me know should you
hear of any such action being taken,
E. J. Sharland) Far Eastern Department
T. J. Clark, *sq.,
H.B.M. Political Agency,
Trucial States,
DUBAI.
RESTRICTED
fa
pa, 26/8.
I
UNCLASSIFIED
Dear Department,
Enter
14/95
H.B.M. POLINICAL AGENCY
Bank of China
TRUCIAL STATES
DUBAI
11 August, 1968
· RECEIVED IN ***IVES N" 31
1. AUG 1968
FC5/4