TNAG-0027-FCO40-63-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 73

SECRET

CYPHER/CAT A

PRIORITY COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG (D.T.D.)

TELNO 2500

7 DECEMBER, 1967 (HWB 3/2)

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187

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ADDRESSED TO HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 2500 OF 7 DECEMBER.

FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING POLAD SINGAPORE AND WASHINGTON.

182) YOUR TELEGRAMNNO 1820. PEKING STAFF EXIT VISAS.

REPEATED

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR HELPFUL COMMENTS AND AGREE WITH THE ANALYSIS IN YOUR PARAGRAPH 1.

2. WE ACCEPT BOTH THE JUSTIFICATION AND THE NEED FOR YOUR POLICY ON COMMUNIST SCHOOLS AND PUPILS AND DO NOT WISH TO URGE THAT YOU RECONSIDER THE DECISION TO QUOTE DEREGISTER UNQUOTE CHUNG WAH SCHOOL OR ITS STAFF OR FOR THE TIME BEING THE DETENTION OF THE HEADMASTER. SUBJECT TO HOPSON'S VIEWS (SEE PARAGRAPH 4 BELOW) HE MIGHT AT SOME STAGE BE USED AS A BARGAINING COUNTER.

3. THE CONSIDERATIONS SET OUT IN YOUR PARAGRAPHS 7 AND 8 RELATING TO OUTSTANDING ACTIONS AGAINST THE PRESS ARE FULLY APPRECIATED AND UNDERSTOOD. WE DO NOT THINK THAT ANY GENERAL ATTEMPT SHOULD BE MADE TO AMELIORATE THE LEGAL CONSEQUENCES FOR THESE NEWSPAPERS, BUT YOU MIGHT DELAY THE SEIZURE OF ASSETS OF NEWSPAPERS AS PROPOSED IN YOUR PARAGRAPH 8, UNTIL WE SEE HOW THE SITUATION DEVELOPS IN

PEKING.

4. WE ALSO SUPPORT THE SUGGESTION IN PARAGRAPH 9 THAT IF THE CHINESE

M F A ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT DEPORTEES CERTAIN OF THE DETAINEES MIGHT BE RELEASED ON CONDITION OF THEIR RETURN TO CHINA ON DEPORTATION ORDERS. HOPSON IS, HOWEVER, BEING ASKED FOR HIS VIEWS ON THIS IN A SEPARATE TELEGRAM.

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DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

C.O.

LAST

HONG KONG DEPT.

182

E.E.I.D.

:、

J.I.R.D.

J.I.P.G.D.

201 202

26

NEWS DEPT.

F.O. F.E.D.

PROF OCOL AND CONFERENCE DEPT.

P.C.D.

D.S.A.0. PERSONNEL DEPT.

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