TNAG-0029-FCO40-65-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 17

Private Secretary

CONFIDENTIAL

SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS

MEET ING

The Secretary of State is now to hold the meeting about Sino-British relations at 10 a.m. on 26 March. The main points for discussion and decision remain broadly speaking those set out in my submission of 21 March.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

2.

Since my submission there have been the following develop-

ments:"

(a) Representations by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs

(1) When the Counsellor in our Mission in Peking called on the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to press for exit visas for Mrs. Peters (the wife of the Commercial Counsellor) and her children, he was told that the Chinese side had noted the question of entry and exit visas But "because of obstacles created by the British Government there were some difficulties". (This may just possibly be a hopeful indication that if we lift our requirement for exit permits the Chinese may grant exit visas normally.) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminded Mr. Cradock of Lo Kuei-po's statement of 8 Karch, particularly that the Hong Kong problem was the crux of Sino- British relations and remarked on the delay in a reply.

(11) On 25 March the Chargé d'Affaires in Peking, when discussing prison visits in Hong Kong, was reminded by Hsueh,

/Deputy

CONFIDENTIAL

$10.