TNAG-0029-FCO40-65-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 172

CONFIDENTIAL

Peking telegram No. 179 to Foreign Office

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there and that there was no repeat no ban on the peaceful study of

b or anyone else: and the fact that within the framework of the law the Chinese inhabitants were certainly not 1? grp, omittedjed from patriotic activities. Statement might refer to the number of last year's prisoners already released, deny any reports of ill treatment in jails and invite inspection by a neutral observer. We should also consider giving Chinese a formal reply to their statement of 8 March preferably orally in order to avoid public commitment. These are only first thoughts and statements would need most careful wording. But it may be in our interests to attempt: something on these lines. It would help to narrow down the area of uncertainty about Chinese intentions; it might also advance understanding of Hong Kong's position and thereby assist in any diplomatic or publicity, pressure on Peking,

7. As regards this Mission, we have no alternative but to make, the best of it and prepare to sit it out. The Chinese treatment, in respects other than our detention, is generally correct and we must hope will continue so. It is possible that we may be allowed a trickle of exit visas on compassionate or health grounds. We shall try.

8.

I do not repeat not think we have yet reached a point where we should consider suspending relations. In any case it would not help us;

we should still be kept here and should probably be deprived of our diplomatic status. But we must now look more closely at our contingency planning (my letter to Wilkinson of 19 December). My first thoughts are:-

(a) I think that the time may have come for immediate diplomatic action on as wide a scale as possible.

(b) I think I should sooner or later initiate publicity among diplomatic corps here by writing to the Dean, copying to my colleagues, giving a statement on detention.

(c) I think there is also a case for wider publicity i.e. in the world Press. This is however a two-edged weapon. It is arguable that since the Chinese have already chosen to be stubborn we would lose little by publicising the fact. But publicity might cause them to make living here much more uncomfortable, which they could easily do, or might encourage them to cook up some story against member of our staff justifying stringent measures. Our capacity to sit this out depends on some restraint on their part. Also if we publicise the fact that they have told us we must reply to their "demands" we commit them more firmly to this requirement (we should also have to be careful about this point in diplomatic action). Publicity

could also lead to pressure at home for undesirably strong action. I would therefore prefer to withhold this publicity for the moment though it may be impossible to hold position long.

(a) We should also urgently examine what other means of pressure we can bring to bear on the Chinese e.g. ecomomic.

CONFIDENTIAL

/(e) I strongly recommend