TNAG-0028-FCO40-64-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 68

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CONFIDENTIAL

Peking telegram No. 129 to Foreign Office

2.

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It is, I am afraid, profitless to speculate on how many "patriotic" journalists there are. There is only one way of finding out, which is to ask the Chinese. I would not see real objection to an immediate factual enquiry being made to the Chinese on this point in Hong Kong or, preferably, here. I think however that it would be better to do so only after we had agreed in principle that we were ready to make some concession. on visits to "patriotic" journalists. On this last point, if we are to reconsider our position on prison visits, may I urge the importance of speed;

(a)

on grounds of humanity in view of our anxieties about Grey and

(b)

because the greater the delay the greater the risk that the Chinese offer of 28 January may lapse.

Sir D. Hopson

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.O. F.E.D.

P.C.D.

Consular Dept

D.D. & P.U.S.D. J.I.R.D.

News Dept

DSAO Personnel Dept

C.O. H.K.D.

News pept

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CON FID ENTIAL