In Hewitt 318
PA
London Press Service
Verbatim Service
VERBATIM SERVICE 357/67.
WEDNESDAY
30787676
RESTRICTIONS ON CHINESE MISSION IN LONDON: F.0. STATEMENT.
FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF A PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE FOREIGN OFFICE IN LONDON TODAY 30 AUGUST 1967:
ON 27 AUGUST A NOTE WAS DELIVERED TO THE FOREIGN OFFICE BY THE OFFICE OF THE CHINESE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES IN LONDON. THE NOTE WAS
IN THE CHINESE LANGUAGE BUT A TRANSLATION, PREPARED BY THE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES' OFFICE WAS ATTACHED. THIS TRANSLATION READS AS FOLLOWS:
8 2 ACCORDING TO THE ORAL COMMUNICATION OF MR. GEORGE THOMSON, BRITISH MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, ON AUGUST 22 AND THE THREE NOTES FROM THE BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE DATED AUGUST 18, 23 AND 24, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS LAID DOWN UNREASONABLE RESTRICTIONS ON THE EXIT FROM AND TRAVEL IN BRITAIN OF THE PERSONNEL OF THE OFFICE OF THE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND OTHER CHINESE ORGANISATIONS IN BRITAIN AND THEIR HOUSEHOLDS, AND HAS ASKED THE OFFICE OF THE CHINESE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES TO SUSPEND THE USE OF ITS DIPLOMATIC RADIO TRANSMITTERS, IN DISREGARD OF THE MOST URGENT AND STRONGEST PROTEST DATED AUGUST 20 OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WHILE REDOUBLING ITS EFFORTS IN PERSECUTING CHINESE PATRIOTIC COUNTRYMEN IN HONG KONG BY FACIST ATROCITIES HAS LAID DOWN THESE UNREASONABLE RESTRICTIONS TO HINDER THE NORMAL DIPLOMATIC AND BUSINESS ACTIVITIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE CHINESE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES AND OTHER CHINESE ORGANISATIONS IN BRITAIN, AND THE FREEDOM OF TRAVEL OF THEIR PERSONNEL. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS POLITICAL PROVOCATION AGAINST THE GREAT CHINESE PEOPLE AND A NEW GRAVE STEP DELIBERATELY TAKEN BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IN ITS FRENZIED OPPOSITION TO CHINA TO FURTHER WORSEN THE RELATIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND BRITAIN. THE OFFICE OF THE CHINESE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES EXPRESSES ITS IMMENSE INDIGNATION AT THIS AND LODGES THE STRONGEST PROTEST WITH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT. IN DOING SO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS BOUND TO LIFT A ROCK ONLY TO DROP IT ON ITS OWN FEET ' ' THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT MUST IMMEDIATELY REMOVE THE ABOVE-MENTIONED UNREASONABLE RESTRICTIONS. OTHERWISE, IT WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GRAVE CONSEQUENCES ARISING THEREFROM.
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THE DELIVERY OF THIS NOTE WAS PRECEDED AND FOLLOWED BY NUMEROUS TELEPHONE CALLS FROM THE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES' OFFICE, CLAIMING THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE CHINESE MISSION WERE BEING HARASSED BY THE POLICE AND PROTESTING AGAINST THE RESTRICTIONS WHICH HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT HAVE PLACED ON THEIR MOVEMENTS.
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THIS NOTE COMPLAINS OF THE ↑↑ UNREASONABLE RESTRICTIONS' PLACED UPON THE EXIT FROM AND TRAVEL IN THE UNITED KINGDOM BY THE PERSONNEL OF THE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES' OFFICE AND OTHER CHINESE ORGANISATIONS IN BRITAIN AND THEIR HOUSEHOLDS. SINCE THE ADVENT TO POWER OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC, BRITISH SUBJECTS IN CHINA, WHETHER OFFICIALS OR PRIVATE CITIZENS, HAVE NEVER BEEN FREE TO LEAVE THAT COUNTRY WITHOUT AN EXIT PERMIT, RECENTLY, EVEN BEFORE THE SACKING OF THE BRITISH MISSION, THE CHINESE HAVE IMPEDED THE DEPARTURE FROM CHINA OF BRITISH OFFICIALS. IN SOME CASES THE EXIT PERMITS WERE GRANTED, BUT WHEN THE OFFICIALS WERE DUE TO LEAVE THEY WERE TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO SEATS AVAILABLE ON AIRCRAFT OR OTHER MEANS OF EXIT FROMREKIN
ладо
INGED IN
ES No. 63
PTO COP1587
HWB ||17
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