TNAG-0029-FCO40-65-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 106

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Mr. Wilkinson

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Mr. James Murray

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Sir Denis Allen

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Deportation of Film Stars from Hong Kong

PROBLEM

The two film stars whom the Government of

Hong Kong tried to deport to China as a test

case returned to Hong Kong on 15 March having

apent 31 hours on the border bridge. The Chinese made serious protest" to the Charge d'

Same

Affaires in Peking on the following day against

the attempted deportation and demanded that the

two persons should be declared innocent and

set free. Sir D. Hopson in rejecting the

protest pointed out that the Hong Kong

Government saw their action as a means of making

progress and relieving tension and not raising

it as the Chinese had done by exploiting the

(Peknią Tel. No. 207).

incident The Governor of Hong Kong has proposed (Hong Kong telegram No.344) that we

should pursue this line with the Chinese

through various channels simultaneously in order

to emphasise that we consider such deportations

as a useful way of solving our mutual problems.

Sir Donald Hopson has advised (Peking telegram

No.223) that we should initially pursue this

through one informal channel only.

RECOMMENDATION

2. I recommend that we shoulā pursue the

Governor's proposal in the manner advised by

Sir D. Hopson. We should not, however,

include in our approach any reference to the

talks now going on in Hong Kong with the

/Now China