TNAG-0027-FCO40-63-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 101

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CONFIDENTIAL

AMENDED DISTRIBUTION

27 November, 1967

Cypher/Cat, A.

IMMEDIA PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno. 272

27 November, 1967

CONFIDENTIAL

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No, 272 of 27 November, Repeated for information to Hong Kong, Washington and POLAD Singapore.

My telegram No. 269 (not to all):

Restrictions.

I was summoned by Deputy Director Western Europe this afternoon, who informed me as from 29 November all restrictions on movement on staff of British Office in Peking would be removed and that we should revert to normal limits for Diplomatic Corps.

I asked him if this measure included normal issue of entry and exit visas and he confirmed that applications would be dealt with in normal way by Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I take this to me an that visas will in fact be issued,

3. After informing me about lifting of restrictions, Mr. Hsueh went on to say the root cause of abnormal state of Sino British relations was the suppressed Chinese citizens in Hong Kong and that until this stopped and British Government accepted Chinese Government's demands and released all prisoners, there could be no improvement or normalisation of relations.

4. I forgot to enquire whether Chinese Government intended to make any announcement about lifting of restrictions. I doubt if they will and unless they do I strongly recommend that we wait to inform Press until we see what happens on 29 November.

See my immediately following telegram.

Foreign Office pass Hong Kong No. 124, Washington No. 28, Singapore No. 28.

Mr. Hopson

ADVANCE COPIES SENT:

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F.E.D.

JJJJJ

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