TNAG-0028-FCO40-64-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 99

CONFIDENTIAL

288

CYPHER/CAT A

PRIORITY FOREIGN OFFICE

ΤΟ

PERING

TELNO 132

6 FEBRUARY 1968 (F.E.D.)

LASI

REF

272 A, B, C

NCX

REF.

2900

CONFIDENTIAL..

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 132 OF 6 FEBRUARY

REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG.

272AB.CYOUR TELEGRAMS NUMBERS 72, 73 AND 74: EXIT AND ENTRY VISAS.

IT IS ENCOURAGING THAT THE CHINESE HAVE NOW DROPPED THE POINT ABOUT HONG KONG AND HAVE AT LAST STATED WHAT APPEAR TO BE THEIR TERMS, THEIR SIDE OF THE BARGAIN IS TIRESOMELY IMPRECISE: BUT WE AGREE THAT WE ARE UNLIKELY TO GET CLEARER ASSURANCES THAT THEY WILL RECIPROCATE IF WE MAKE THE FIRST MOVES. THE FACT THAT KAO WAS PREPARED TO COMMIT HIMSELF EVEN AS FAR AS HE DID, SUGGESTS THAT SOME HIGH LEVEL DECISIONS HAVE NOW BEEN TAKEN ABOUT THE TREATMENT OF YOUR MISSION (THOUGH NOT NECESSARILY ABOUT GREY).

2. OUR VIEWS ON THE INDIVIDUAL POINTS AT ISSUE ARE AS FOLLOWS: (A) WE ARE PREPARED TO SUSPEND THE EXIT VISA REQUIREMENT HERE COMPLETELY ON THE CLEAR UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CHINESE WILL MAKE NO DIFFICULTIES ABOUT EXIT VISAS FOR YOUR MISSION. WE NEED NOT REVOKE THE ORDER-IN-COUNCIL, AND WE WOULD HAVE TO REVIVE THE SYSTEM IF THE CHINESE MADE NO MOVE TO RELEASE MEMBERS OF YOUR MISSION:

(B) WE ARE ALSO PREPARED TO TELL THE CHINESE THAT ENTRY VISAS FOR LONDON WILL IN FUTURE BE DEALT WITH QUOTE IN THE NORMAL WAY UNQUOTE ON A BASIS OF RECIPROCITY, ALTHOUGH WE WOULD OF COURSE RESERVE OUR RIGHT TO REFUSE INDIVIDUAL VISAS. IN PRACTICE THIS

WOULD MEAN THAT WE WOULD GRANT OUTSTANDING VISAS FOR THE BANK OF CHINA (ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WOULD THEN BE PROGRESS ON THE CASES OF THE SELFS AND CROZIERS) ALTHOUGH THE OFFICIALS CONCERNED WOULD ONLY BE GIVEN RESIDENCE PERMITS VALID FOR

THREE MONTHS A! A TIME UNTIL THE PROBLEMS OF OUR OWN BANKERS

IN SHANGHAI HAD BEEN SOLVED.

(C) THE N.G.N.A. PRESENTS GREATER DIFFICULTIES. WE REALLY CANNOT JUSTIFY HERE ANY MOVE TO INCREASE THE ACTIVITIES OF

N.C.N.A. IN LONDON WHILE GREY IS STILL UNDER HOUSE ARREST AND

INCOMMUNICADO. WE ARE PREPARED TO GRANT THE OUTSTANDING N.C.N.A.

ENTRY VISAS IF THE CHINESE MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THEY INTEND TO RELEASE

/GREY

CONFIDENTIAL