CONFIDENTI AL
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 234 TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
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4. I WOULD BE PREPARED, THEREFORE, TO AGREE THAT HM CHARGE D'AFFAIRES
SHOULD TELL THE CHINESE THAT IF THE NAMES OF THE 'PATRIOTIC
JOURNALISTS' ARE SUPPLIED WE ARE PREPARED TO AGREE TO A SINGLE
VISIT COF THE NORMAL DURATION) TO EACH INDIVIDUALLY BY HIS EMPLOYER
AND ONE OTHER OFFICIAL OF THE NEWSPAPER EMPLOYING HIM COR,
IF THIS HAS TO BE CONCEDED, ONE NCNA REPRESENTATIVE) PROVIDED
THAT THE PRISONER CONCERNED DID NOT OBJECT AND THAT THE TIME WAS
CONVENIENT TO THE PRISON AUTHORITIES.
5. I AM AFRAID I MUST MAKE ONE FURTHER CONDITION. WE DO NOT
YET KNOW AND CANNOT ASSESS THE NUMBERS ACTUALLY INVOLVED. THE
PROPOSAL IN THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPH IS BASED ON THE ASSUMPTION
THAT THE NUMBER OF VISITS IN THIS CATEGORY IS REASONABLY
SMALL (SAY, UNDER 20). IF THE REQUESTS FOR SPECIAL VISITS OF THIS
KIND PROVED TO BE MATERIALLY GREATER THAN THIS WE SHOULD HAVE
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TO INSIST ON THEM BEING SPACED OUT OVER A CONSIDERABLE PERIOD.
I THINK THE CHINESE SHOULD PERHAPS BE FOREWARNED.
FO PLEASE PASS IMMEDIATE PEKING AS MYTEL 73.
SIR D. TRENCH
[REPETITION TO PEKING REFERRED FOR DEPARTMENTAL
DECISION]
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