TNAG-0027-FCO40-63-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 52

CONFIDENTIAL

Cypher/Cat A

IMMEDIATE

Telno 328

PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

LAST

R5F.

204

11 December 1967

L'EXT

kur

CONFIDENTIAL

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 328 of 11

Repeated for information to Hong Kong, POLAD Singapore

and Washington,

My immediately preceding telegram.

After giving information on visas Mr. Liu went on to say that in his interview with Consular Department on 2 December Mr. Hopson had used harsh words about Chinese referring to hostages and gangsters. This was wholly unreasonable and turning white into black. The Chinese Government hoped that we would change this attitude and stop this slander.

20

Cradeck thanked Mr. Liu for his news on visas. He said 28 we had made clear many times we were anxious to resume normal movements of staff to and from our respective offices in London and Peking. This meant the issuing of exit and entry visas.

We had many other exit visa applications out-standing as set out most recently in our Note of 1 December. Had the Consular Department

any news on these? Mr. Liu said no and when asked when such news might be expected gave the usual reply "when there is news we shall tell you".

3.

Cradock then referred to remarks about harsh words and said there was one easy way to remove the need for these. That was the granting of exit visas and the immediate resumption of normal staff movements. The remedy was a simple one and lay in the Chinese Government's hands, Mr. Liu contested this saying that Mr. Hopson had begun using harsh words and that it was the British who must change their act.

4.

This wa8

a mild interview and there was no reference to Hong hong. Mr. Liu's remarks indicated some sensitivity to the charge of holding us as hostages and no doubt to the possibility of publicity on this score. Visas for the Blishens may therefore be intended as a defence against such charges while allowing pressure to be maintained à propos expulsion. They may however be a prelude to applications for exit visas in London. Please keep me informed on this.

(202)

5.

As argued in my telegram No. 325 I consider that granting of these visas strengthen rather than weaken the case for evasive action on Wen Hui Pao. The object should be to keep the flow moving towards normality without making substantial concessions on Hong Kong.

6.

I am informing the Press Corps here that visas have been issued while stressing that there are still a dozen more who are waiting to leave and whose applications have been in for some time. While therefore this is a welcome development it is still very far from a return to normal movement. I hope News Department will take the same line. No repeat no) reference should be made to the exchanges in paragraphs 1 and 3 above. Terms such as "hostages" should be reserved for use at a later stage if necessary.

(

Foreign Office pass Immediate to Hong Kong 170, POLAD Singapore 49 and Washington 49.

Mr. Hopson

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.0. F.E.D.

EEEEE

&

[Repeated as requested]

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

DSAQ

C.O. F.E.P.D.

H.K.D. Personnel Dept.

Consul F.U.S.D.

ept P.PROD News Department

CONFIDENTIAL

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