CYPHER CAT A
SECRET
203
FROM ROUTINE WASHINGTON
TELEGRAM NO 1891
SECRET
TO THE FOREIGN OFFICE
DATED 2 JUNE 1967
ADDRESSED TO FOREIGN OFFICE TELEGRAM NO 1891 OF 2 JUNE,
REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG.
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO 762: HONG KONG DISTURBANCES.
(200)
THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAVE PROMISED A CONSIDERED ASSESSMENT EARLY NEXT WEEK. THE IMMEDIATE COMMENT OF THE DIRECTOR OF ASIAN COMM- UNIST AFFAIRS (JACOBSON) WAS THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WERE UNLIKELY TO WANT TO ALTER THE STATUS OF HONG KONG AT THE PRESENT JUNCTURE, IN VIEW OF THE SINO SOVIET DISPUTE, THE SITUATION IN VIET NAM AND THEIR OWN INTERNAL DIFFICULTIES. IN THE LIGHT OF DOUBTS ABOUT THE FOOD SITUATION, THEY MUST THINK IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE ACCESS TO CANADIAN AND AUSTRALIAN GRAIN AND WOULD WANT TO MAINTAIN THEIR FOREIGN EXCHANGE EARNINGS THROUGH HONG KONG TO ENABLE THEM TO PAY FOR GRAIN SHIPMENTS. THEY MUST ALSO REALISE BY NOW, IF THEY DID NOT ALREADY KNOW IT, THAT HONG KONG COULD NOT BE SOFTENED UP AS EASILY AS MACAO.
2. JACOBSON THEREFORE THOUGHT THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT
WOULD PROBABLY LIKE TO MAINTAIN MORE OR LESS THE STATUS QUO IN HONG KONG WITH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF AGITATION TO SATISFY LOCAL ENTHUSIASTS AND SHOW THAT PEKING WAS NOT PREPARED TO ACCEPT A REBUFF. AT THE SAME TIME HE AGREED THAT IN PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES IRRATIONAL ACTIONS WERE A DISTINCT POSSIBILITY.
FO PASS HONG KONG AS MY TEL NO 78.
SIR P. DEAN
SENT AT Ø2/2348Z RECD AT 02/2349Z
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.0. F.E.D.
D.D. & P.U.S.D.
200
ME
J.I.R.D.
C.0.
D.T.D.
F.E. & P.D.
XEF.
RECEIVED ! ARCHIVES N
- 5 JUND
SECRET
14A1/12
SENT TO HONG KONG AS COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (D.T.D.)
TELEGRAM NO.
1119
DARD
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