TNAG-0028-FCO40-64-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 86

CYPHER/CAT A

CONFIDENTI AL

PRIORITY COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NO. 231

8 FEBRUARY, 1968 (F & HKD)

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CONFIDENTIAL.

ADDRESSED TO HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO.231 OF 8 FEBRUARY REPEATED FOR

INFORMATION TO PEKING.

283

YOUR TELEGRAM NO.150: PRISONERS.

IT WAS CLEARLY RIGHT TO POSTPONE ACTION UNTIL AFTER 8 FEBRUARY, BUT WE THINK THAT YOU SHOULD STILL STRY TO DEPORT THE TWO FILM STARS. WE DO NOT SEE THIS IN ANY WAY AS A QUID PRO QUO FOR GREY BUT RATHER AS A TEST CASE. IT SHOULD INDICATE TO THE CHINESE THAT WE ARE PREPARED TO DEAL WITH CERTAIN PRISONERS IN THIS WAY, AND THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF THE OPERATION SHOULD GIVE US SOME GUIDANCE ABOUT HOW TO PROCEED WITH AN EXCHANGE FOR GREY.

2. YOU WILL SEE FROM SEPARATE TELEGRAMS THAT HOPSON HAS BEEN

INSTRUCTED TO HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE ABOUT EXIT

AND ENTRY VISAS, WE WANT TO TRY TO AVOID THESE TWO EXERCISES BECOMING ENTANGLED. IT IS BEST THEREFORE THAT THE DEPORTATIONS

SHOULD NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL HOPSON HAS MADE HIS INITIAL APPROACH

TO THE CHINESE ABOUT VISAS AND GREY. IT MIGHT THEN OR AT A LATER STAGE BE USEFUL TACTICALI.Y TO BE ABLE TO LAY ON THE DEPORTATION OF THE FOLM STARS AT SHORT NOTICE IN ORDER TO DEMONSTRATE TO THE CHINESE HOW THE GREY CASE COULD BE SETTLED. WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO TAKE ALL THE PREPARATORY STEPS (EXCEPT INFORMING THE CHINESE) IMMEDIATELY AFTER 8 FEBRUARY, BUT TO DELAY ACTUAL DEPORTATION UNTIL WE HAVE HAD A CLEAR INDICATION OF THE CHINESE REACTION TO OUR LATEST PROPOSALS? PRESUMABLY THIS WOULD MEAN THAT WE WOULD BE COMMITTED

/TO

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CONFIDENTIAL