CYPHY CAT A
SECRET
IMMEDIATE FOREIGN OFFICE
ΤΟ
PEKING
TELNO 77
19 JANUARY 1968 (F.E.D.)
SECRET.
264
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NO.77 OF 19 JANUARY REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG.
M.I.P.T. - SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS.
IN CONSIDERING GREY'S CASE WE HAVE ALSO HAD IN MIND WIDER QUESTIONS OF SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS. UP TO NOW WE HAVE HOPED THAT AN IMPROVEMENT IN HONG KONG TOGETHER WITH A WANING OF CULTURAL REVOLUTION EXTREMISM WOULD LEAD TO A SLOW BUT STEADY IMPROVEMENT IN THE WHOLE SITUATION WHICH WOULD ALSO BENEFIT YOUR MISSION AND OTHER BRITISH SUBJECTS. TO HELP THIS PROCESS WE WOULD BE PREPARED TO MAKE SOME CONCESSIONS TO THE CHINESE ON MOVEMENT RESTRICTIONS, ENTRY VISAS ETC. WE DO NOT (REPEAT NOT) HOWEVER THINK THAT GRADUAL NORMALISATION WILL BE ACHIEVED BY CONTINUAL UNILATERAL CONCESS-
(210)
IONS.
2.
NOR ARE WE CERTAIN THAT THE CHINESE PRICE FOR NORMALISATION WILL BE AS HIGH AS YOU SUGGEST IN YOUR TELEGRAM NO.41. IT REMAINS OUR VIEW (C.O. TELEGRAM TO HONG KONG NO.2579) THAT WE CAN EXPECT THE CHINESE AT SOME POINT TO INDICATE THE SORT OF GESTURE THEY WOULD HOPE FOR IN RETURN FOR DISMOUNTING'' THE CAMPAIGN IN HONG KONG. WE DOUBT VERY MUCH WHETHER HSUEH'S FORMAL REITERATION LAST NOVEMBER (WHEN THERE WAS NO SIGN OF THE COMMUNISTS 'DISMOUNTING' THE CONFRONTATION) OF THE FIVE DEMANDS, INCLUDING THE RELEASE OF 17 ALL PRISONERS (YOUR TELEGRAM NO.272) SHOULD BE INTERPRETED AS THE
MINIMUM CONCESSION THEY ARE SEEKING NOW. IF THIS REALLY WERE THE CASE, IT WOULD BE TOO HIGH A PRICE TO PAY.
3. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOUR FURTHER VIEWS ON THIS POINT ALSO.
SOSFA
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
TE
F.0.
F.E.D.
P.C.D.
NEWS DEPT.
C.O.
HONG KONG DEPT.
DSAO
PERSONNEL DEPT.
SECRET
NNNNN
263
262/4472
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.