TNAG-0028-FCO40-64-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 148

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26

Sir Arthur Galsworthy

Reference......

272/67..

Mr. Brighty's minute of 23 January has stated

that the Secretary of State would like to have a

word about how to handle Peking telegram No. 65 of 22 January which is registered at (267).

As you know, we have worked very closely with

the Foreign Office over Hong Kong affairs and particularly matters which might have some effect on

our Mission in Peking. We have all the time to bear

in mind that confidence in the Hong Kong Government's ability to maintain law and order in Hong Kong is the

key to the situation in Hong Kong. We have also to

bear in mind that no action should be taken in

Hong Kong which would unnecessarily cause strong reactions from Peking. I think over the months we

have managed to maintain a satisfactory balance

between these two.

There are a number of people detained in Hong Kong and imprisoned in Hong Kong whom the Hong Kong Government would be only too pleased to return to China. One of the problems is that the threat of

possible deportation is only valid so long as it can

be carried out. There have been doubts whether in fact the mainland Chinese would be prepared to accept people across the border, and it is mainly for this

reason that this particular weapon has not been

used to any extent in the present difficult situation.

The Governor's telegram at (262) assesses the position from Hong Kong's point of view and I am in

agreement with this assessment, which I think is shared by the Foreign Office. This is against any general release of prisoners or detainees, but it is proposed that the two film stars, who have been detained in

Hong Kong, should be returned to China as a first stage. The Peking press had already been accusing the Hong Kong Government of deporting these two to

Taiwan and it might make it a little more difficult

for them to refuse to take them back into China.

this exercise is successful, the next step might be to try to do a swap between the N.C.N.A. prisoners and Mr. Grey.

I suggest a reply to the Hong Kong telegram as

If

in