Cypher/Cat A
CONFIDENTIAL
IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
Telegram No. 98
31 January, 1968
280
1232
CONFIDENTIAL
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 98 of
31 January 9
Repeated for information to Hong Kong.
Your telegram No. 117: Prison Visits.
Counsellor saw Mr. Hsueh today, raised the conveyed proposal as in paragraph 3 of Hong Kong telegram No. 132 making plain that such an arrangement could be made only on the clear understanding that there would be immediate consular access to Grey.
2. Hsueh at once enquired about "other patriotic journalists". Cradock replied as in paragraph 5 of Hong Kong telegram No. 132. When Hsueh pointed out that this did not meet "minimum requisites" Cradock said we were ready to allow formal visits to two men in return for consular access to one; this was in addition to regular visits the two received. After further exchange Hsueh repeated that we were taking only half a step forward and urged us to reconsider. The answer as given to him was in his personal opinion unsatisfactory.
30 Cradock said he would report Mr. Hsueh's views but in his personal opinion it was unlikely Her Majesty's Government would reconsider.
4.
Interview was mild and on several occasions Hsueh argued that we had taken half a step and it should not be difficult to take the other half, if British really had the sincerity, question could be settled. He emphasized that if we wished to ease Sino British relations we could not put the question of Hong Kong to one side.
5.
Hsueh's reply did not amount to a formal rejection of our proposal but it seems unlikely that there will be any further response from the Chinese.
Sir D. Hopson
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.O. F.E.D.
Consular Dept
P.C.D.
News Dept
D.D. & P.U.S.D.
J.I.R.D.
C.O. H.K. Dept
SSSSS
News Dept
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
DSAO Personnel Dept DIS M.O.D.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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