TNAG-0029-FCO40-65-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 143

CYPHER/CAT A

IMMEDIATE HONGKONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 333

CONDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

OP COPY

366

TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

15 MARCH 1968

RCF

354

R.

งาย

979 381

دانا

ARG

RECEIVED IN

.63

12 MARDUO

ADDRESSED CO TELNO 333 OF 15TH MARCH RFI PEKING.

$154)OUR

TELEGRAM 314: PRISON VISITS.

HWB 3/2

AGREEMENT WAS EVENTUALLY REACHED ON NEUTRAL MEETING-PLACE AND TALKS

TOOK PLACE YESTERDAY.

20

THE NCNA CHEADED BY LIANG SHAN-YUAN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR) PRODUCED

A LIST OF 20 ''PATRIOTIC JOURNALISTS' IN ADDITION TO 2 NONA

PRISONERS, AND THE NAMES OF 14 VISITORS. THEY PROPOSED THAT

2 NCNA REPRESENTATIVES PLUS 2 REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH NEWSPAPER

SHOULD VISIT PRISONERS NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT IN GROUPS ACCORDING

TO THEIR EMPLOYERS. SPECIAL ROOMS SHOULD BE PROVIDED FOR VISITS,

AND NORMAL REGULATIONS ON LENGTH OF VISITS AND ENTRY PROCEDURE

SHOULD NOT APPLY. SOMEONE FROM THE P.A'S OFFICE SHOULD BE PRESENT

AT THE PRISON TO ENSURE THAT VISITS WERE CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE

WITH THE ARRANGEMENTS AGREED AT THE DISCUSSIONS. GIFTS, INCLUDING

MAO'S WORKS, SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO BE PRESENTED TO PRISONERS.

3. IN REPLY P.A. POINTED OUT THAT OUR PROPOSAL IN PEKING HAD

BEEN TO EFFECT THAT VISITS SHOULD BE PAID TO INDIVIDUALS AND THAT

VISITORS? NUMBER OF VISITS SHOULD BE TWO ONLY. NONA PROPOSALS WHICH DID NOT

COMPLY WITH THIS WERE PRIMA FACIE UNACCEPTABLE. NEVERTHELESS ME

WOULD REPORT BACK WHAT HAD BEEN SAID, AND IF IT WAS THOUGHT ON

EITHER SIDE THAT A FURTHER MEETING WOULD BE USEFUL IT COULD BE

ARRANGED THROUGH THE USUAL CHANNELS.

4. CHINESE ALSO RAISED QUESTIONS OF FILM STARS AND RICE,

OBJECTING TO ''DEPORTATION OF FORMER, AND REAFFIRMING THEIR

POSITION ON THE GIFT RICE. POLITICAL ADVISER EXPLAINED GOVERNMENT'S

ATTITUDE ON BOTH ISSUES WHILE POINTING OUT THAT HE WAS NOT EMPOWERED

TO TAKE DECISIONS ON EITHER.

5. THE ATMOSPHERE WAS RELAXED AND THERE WAS NO ABUSE. NONA

REPRESENTATIVES ASSERTED THAT THEY DID NOT WANT TO MAKE DIFFICULTIES

BUT THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY DETERMINED TO GET THEIR FULL POUND OF FLESH.

/FOREIGN OFFICE