TNAG-0027-FCO40-63-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 14

сованна

HWA14/22

CONFIDENTIAL

227

CYPHER/CAT A

IMMEDIATE FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING

TELNO 1141 29 DECEMBER, 1967 (FED)

CONFIDENTIAL.

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NO 1141 29 DECEMBER REPEATED FOR

INFORMATION TO HONG KONG,

225

HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 1922: PRISON VISITS.

WE SEE THE DIFFICULTY ABOUT LINKING SPECIAL VISITS TOO DIRECTLY TO ACCESS TO GREY: BUT IF WE ARE TO DERIVE ANY BENEFIT FROM THIS FOR GREY WE THINK THAT AN IMPLIED LINK IS UNAVOIDABLE, AND

INDEED DESTRABLE.

2. PLEASE SEEK AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CHINESE AND, REFERRING TO THE NEW CHINA ME AGENCY APPROACH IN HONG KONG, SAY THAT VISITS TO PRISONERS -N ONLY BE MADE AT THE REQUEST OF THE PRISONER HIMSELF. IF SUCH A REQUEST IS MADE BY THE N.C.N.A. STAFF IN PRISON IT WOULD, HOWEVER, PROBABLY BE GRANTED, YOU SHOULD NOT YOURSELF RAISE THE QUESTIONS OF CLOTHING OR FOOD: IF THE CHINESE DO SO YOU SHOULD SAY THAT THESE ARE MATTER OF DETAIL WHICH SHOULD BE DISCUSSED IN HONG KONG. (ON BOTH QUESTIONS WE AGREE WITH THE LINE IN THE HONG KONG TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE.) IF THE CHINESE ASK ABOUT VISITS TO OTHER PRISONERS YOU SHOULD RESTRICT YOURSELF TO SAYING THAT THE PRISONERS THEMSELVES MUST APPLY ACCORDING TO THE

RULES.

3. ONCE THE QUESTION OF VISITS IN HONG KONG HAS BEEN DEALT WITH YOU SHOULD GO ON TO ENQUIRE ABOUT VISITS TO GREY, BUT WITHOUT SPECIFICALLY LINKING THE TWO CASES.

4. WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING WHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD NOW BE OPT ORTUNE TO PROPOSE AN EXCHANGE OF GREY FOR THE IMPRISONED N..N.A. STAFF MEMBERS. THIS WOULD OF COURSE INTRODUCE A NEW AND POSSIBLY COMPLICATING FACTOR INTO THE QUESTION OF PRISON VISITS. MOREOVER THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR KEEPING THIS

/NEW

LAST

R. F

CONFIDENTIAL

225

228/2011