FP13/8
CYPHER/CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
ئة
IMMEDIATE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO TO
HONG KONG (D.T.D.)
TELNO 2619
23 DECEMBER 1967
(F)
216
49
CONFIDENTIAL
ADDRESSED TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO.2619 OF 23 DECEMBER
REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING.
(218
YOUR TELEGRAM NO.1938: PRISON VISITS.
WE SHARE YOUR GENERAL ASSESSMENT OF THE CHINESE TACTICS. IN THE CASE OF THE TWO NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY STAFF REPORTERS, WE HAVE HOWEVER TWO PRELIMINARY COMMENTS.
(A) IT WOULD BE A PITY IF, AS THE RESULT OF A DIRECT REFUSAL TO ALLOW CLOTHING AND FOODSTUFFS TO GO TO THE STAFF REPORTERS, GREY WERE TO DE REFUSED FUTURE COMFORTS. (IT MAY BE SIGNIFICANT THAT, AS REPORTED IN PEKING TELEGRAM NO.312, THE CHINESE TOOK THE INITIATIVE IN INFORMING OUR MISSION THAT THEIR PARCEL HAD BEEN DELIVERED TO GREY). WE FULLY RECOGNISE THAT THE TWO CASES ARE NOT PARALLEL IN THAT YOU ARE MERELY APPLYING STANDARD RULES TO CONVICTED PRISONERS, WHILE THE CHINESE HAVE NOT EVEN PREFERRED CHARGES AGAINST GREY, BUT THIS IS A DISTINCTION WHICH THE CHINESE WILL CERTAINLY REFUSE TO MAKE. IS IT QUITE OUT OF THE QUESTION TO ACCORD THIS PRIVILEGE TO THE STAFF REPORTERS, WHILE WITHOLDING IT FROM OTHER PRISONERS?
(B) WE WOULD HOPE THAT, IN THE CASE OF THE STAFF REPORTERS, IT MIGHT NOT BE NECESSARY TO INSIST ON THE REQUIREMENT THAT REQUESTS FOR EXTRA VISITS MUST ORIGINATE WITH THE PRISONER. IT COULD OF COURSE STAND FOR THE OTHER PRISONERS.
WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND THOSE OF THE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES IN PEKING.
2.
CROSEC
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION F.O. F.E.D.
REF
LAST
218
221
REX,
REF.
NEWS DEPT.
CONSULAR DEFT.
C.O. H.K. DEPT.
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L.W.
CONFIDENTIAL
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