CONFIDENTIAL
Cypher/Cat A
IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
Telno 197
CONFIDENTIAL
13 March 1968
358
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 197 of 13 March Repeated for information to Hong Kong
My telegram No. 193: Watte
Statement makes no reference to Cockburn and Parry and puts onus on a member of the firm who is out of the country. Having failed to obtain suitably incriminating statement from Cockburn and Parry, Chinese may have decided to close the case in this way. Cockburn and Parry's chances of leaving the country tomorrow are not necessarily affected. see.
We shall
29 It is too early yet to assess Chinese intentions. Statement refers to "British Imperialist Intelligence Organizations", not to the British Government or this Mission. The Demodocus case (Hong Kong telegram No. 307) may be an unrelated outburst of prevailing spy mania. Any action however indicates a pattern and possibly a wish to build up their non diplomatic hostages to play off against Hong Kong. The Watt case may be a reminder of trade problems. The Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs said [? gp omitted] could not be settled until Hong Kong was brought into account. I would not (repeat not) expect the Chinese to seek to implicate
this Mission though anti British publicity is likely to affect
the atmosphere and we shall have to tread even more carefully.
る。
•
I would advise against any public statement by us or
Vickers-Zimmer until after Cockburn and Parry have had a
chance to leave tomorrow.
Foreign Office please pass Hong Kong 132.
Sir D. Hopson
[Repeated as requested]
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