SECRET
OUTWARD TELEGRAM
FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
TO HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
Cypher
Sent 15th May 1967. 1915Z
IMMEDIATE
SECRET
No.919
36
Addressed to Governor Hong Kong Repeated
11
Peking (IMMEDIATE)
"POLAD Singapore (PRIORITY)
Your telegram No.609.-35
Peking Statement.
We think that Peking will probably be prepared to engage in a prolonged war of nerves. It is on this assumption we have been considering how to handle the Peking statement preparatory to submitting to Ministers.
2.
There appear to be four alternatives:
(a)
for Hopson to return the statement because it is offensive;
(b)
to ignore it;
(c)
LAST
RIF.
to refute it in detail;
(a) to issue a statement of our own explaining what has happened and the policy we intend
to pursue.
3. We cannot see that there is anything to be gained by returning it: to slam the door in this way would only aggravate the situation.
40 We cannot altogether ignore it because we imagine public opinion in Hong Kong will expect some response and be concerned to know what attitude we intend to adopt and that any uncertainty about this could very seriously affect local confidence and morale.
5. To refute it in detail would be to play Peking's game and lay us open to a further round of polemical exchanges which might cause Peking to adopt a more rigid position and to raise their demands.
6. We therefore think that for the reasons given in paragraph 4 above you should make a short statement along the following lines (which might include an indication that it was approved by H.M.G.): outlining the recent events, noting their origin in an industrial dispute, explaining the means available for settling such disputes and confirming our intention of firmly -but fairly maintaining law and order. By this means we would /hope
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SECRET
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