Mr. Bolland
CONFIDENTIAL
1834
HO
end Shanghai Banking Cerperation
Shenghai Branch
Mr. Stewart of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank in London telephoned me this morning to say that Kr. Self, the Bank's Manager in Shanghai, has applied for an Exit Permit to leave the country. He was due to leave anyway and his successor, Mr. D.G. Lauchlan, is already in Shanghai.
2.
When Mr. Self applied for the Exit Permit he was told that he must apologise "for the crimes committed by the Bank since 1949". He has so far not done this. The Bank's headquarters in Hong Kong are seeking the advice of the Political Adviser to the Governor (Mr. Elliott) but Mr. Stewart wanted us also to know of this development.
3. I told him that my off-the-cuff view was that if Mr. Self signed such a document, even under duress, he and the Bank might get themselves into even more trouble. The Chinese might then say that since Self had acknowledged the fact of these alleged crimes he himself might be held in Shanghai for further investigation and his Exit Permit might in any case be refused. Alternatively, if he were allowed to leave, the Chinese might take it out on his successor, Hr. Lauchlan.
·
I said that I would get in touch with Peking and with Mr. Elliott in Hong Kong and would keep in close touch with Mr. Stewart, but I strongly advised him to get the most careful legal advice possible from the Bank's own legal advisers as to the possible implications.
5.
I have sent a telegram to Peking repeated to Hong Kong.
(A.J. de la Mare) 31 May, 1967
Copies to:1
Mr. Rodgers
Mrs. Denga
Mr. Hall (Commonwealth Office)
CONFIDENTIAL
PROD
300
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