TNAG-0029-FCO40-65-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 140

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DENTIAL

IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno. 207

16 March 1968

367

CONFIDENTIAL

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 207 of 16 March, Repeated for information to Hong Kong.

My telegram No. 204.

Hsueh began by saying that attempt forcibly to deport the two film stars on 14 March was another act of persecution against compatriots. Their sacred right was to reside and work in Hong Kong. The Chinese Government made a serious protest about this. On 8 March the Charge d'Affaires had said that the British Govern- ment wished to take concrete steps to bring the situation in Hong Kong back to normal. However this unreasonable measure, so far from being step to relax tension would arouse strong indignation of Hong Kong compatriots and masses at border and would lead to renewed tension in Hong Kong and on border. The Chinese Government provided all Chinese with free movement facilities between Hong Kong and the rest of the motherland but must oppose deportation no matter where. We must stop these unreasonable practices and guarantee that there would be no recurrence in the future. The Chinese Government demanded that the two film workers be declared innocent and set free, that their safety and freedom from any further persecution be guaranteed and that they should not be sent anywhere outside of Hong Kong against their will, otherwise we would have to bear all the consequences.

2. In my reply I reminded Hsueh that on 31 December he had raised the question of these two film workers and alleged that it was intended to deport them to Taiwan. I had said that nobody was being forcibly deported from Hong Kong and later on a Note had informed Ministry of Foreign Affairs that allegation about the film workers was groundless. Nor was there any attempt in the present instance forcibly to deport the two film workers. They had been told of Hong Kong Government's intention to enable them to return to China and they had not expressed unwillingness. They had freely crossed the bridge. Therefore the Chinese Government's accusation was groundless. Referring to my interview with Lo Kuei-po on 8 March and to "measures to relax tension", I said Chinese had often referred to prisoners in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Government caw their action as something intended to relieve tension not to raise it. It appeared that the Chinese Government had not agreed to accept the two film workers. This attitude was not going to facilitate a solution of our mutual problems.

CONFLORMEIAT.

therefore