TNAG-0028-FCO40-64-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 62

Cypher/Cat A

PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno. 120

CONFIDENTIAL

9 February 1968

X1

CONFIDENTIAL

Addressed to F.O. telegram No. 120 of 9 February Repeated for information to:

доба.

Hong Kong.

My telegram No. 310 of 5 December: Hong Kong transit visas for Chinese.

In the light of what we have learnt since December about the Chinese attitude towards our visa problems, I suggest that we might revert to our preconfrontation policy of issuing Hong Kong transit visas as soon as formalities are completed. We have in any case not had occasion since my telegram under reference to practise the policy of delay since normal formalities have invariably revoked the issue of visas beyond applicants' scheduled date of departure.

2. This would make it unnecessary for Hong Kong to continue to send authorizations in cypher, which practice is no doubt as inconvenient to them as it is to us.

F.O. pass Hong Kong 73.

Sir D. Hopson

[Repeated as requested]

R. 318

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.0.

F.E.D.

P.C.D.

D.S.A.0. Personnel Dept.

Comms Dept.

77777

LAST ***

REF.

2057

303

205

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.63

*16 FEB 1968

надор

CONFIDENTIAL

R&R.

ANS

16.2,68.

R. 318. Hair

12

же 9057

for x/s ANG

19,2.65.