TNAG-0029-FCO40-65-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 111

HONG KONG

CONFIDENT IAL

RONG KONG

PEKING

PEKING

H.K. Dept. 1.& G. Dept. News Dept.

FED, JIRD, OLA, OPA, JIPGD, Nows Dept.

Your telegram No. 344: Film Stars

We agree with the line proposed in your

paragraph 4. We consider, however, that the

reference to NONA should be omitted in order that

this exercise may be kept separate from the question

of prison visits. We entirely agree it should be

kept out of the Political Advisers talks on that

subject.

2.

Hopson's

We feal, however, that Hepson's arguments in

paragraph 1 of Peking telegram No.223 against Seem to us convincing. pursuing this through formal channels/are väliä,

By handling it informally through the channel

referred to in your telegram No. 331 we make it

possible for the Chinese to consider the proposition

} without striking an attitude; and it would involve

no commitment for either side at the initial stage.

We doubt the value of using the China Merchants

Steam Navigation Company for the reasons given in

/paragraph 3(c)