TNAG-0019-FCO40-55-Brief-for-Secretary-of-State-s-discussions-with-Hong-Kong-s--1968 — Page 11

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consideration. I look forward to reading it when it is

ready.

I should like to say a special word of thanks for your

helpful attitude over the past veer towards the problema

experienced by our Kission in Woking, as well as those of

other British subjects in China. Chinese attempte to use

both the Mission and, in particular, r. Grey of Reuters as

hostages for the manner in which you conduct the government

esnéuet

of Hong Kong have been intolerable. I believe you have gone

ne

as far as you could to provide the conditione for an improve-

ment in the situation of both the Eission and Kr. Grey by

agreeing to let Sir D. Hopson tackle the Chinese about certain

problems arising from the confrontation and by your treatment

of communist prisoneze.

I think we both agree that despite

the recent Chinese attempt to use the presence of the Rission

in Peking to exert pressure on Hong Kong, this disadvantage

is outweighed by the benefit of our continuing to maintain a

direct line to the Chinese authorities in Peking. On balanes

it is our view that we should continue to maintain our Mission

there, though we may wish to consider changes in its size and

composition.

SWORET