Cypher/Cat A
CONFIDENTIAL
IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
347
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.63
11 MANstę
Telno 298
9 March, 1968
HWB 3/2
CONFIDENTIAL
Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No. 298 of 9 March,
repeated for information to Peking.
(341)
Your telegram No. 427: Deportation of Film Stars.
The two film stars were interviewed yesterday at some length. Both refused to commit themselves, without instructions from the authorities in China, to any statement, written or verbal, as they consider release to China in such circumstances is tantamount to deportation. They said however that they would return if the CPG wished them to do so: and that on the other hand, if it was decided to despatch them without option across the border, they were "in the hands of the Hong Kong Government".
2.
It is our assessment that the couple would cross into China without any physical protest if it were apparent to them that the CPG border officials were prepared to accept them. The key to the situation, therefore, remains the willingness of the CPG to accept them if and when they are presented at Lo Wu.
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3
It is possible that the CPG might regard presentation of the film stars as a deliberately negative reaction to their statement to Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires, reported in Peking telegram No.174, in the sense that it indicates a rejection of the "demand" that prisoners be released in H.K. in any case, given the present atmosphere and past statements by the CPG concerning
deportation it does seem probable that the CPG will indicate their unwillingness to accept the two film stars in these circumstances (but just possibly also their release might be taken as a gesture toward them). However, we cannot hope to conceal indefinitely the fact that we have taken the initial step of discussing with the film stars the question of their release to China, and any deferment of the next steps might thus be construed by the CPG as a sign of weakness related to the Vice-Minister's reiteration of the "demands". There is the additional factor that we do not want to give the impression that detainees have only to indicate their unwillingness to return to China on a voluntary basis for the matter to be dropped. On balance, therefore, having set this exercise in motion, we feel we should see it through.
4.
Subject, therefore, to your views and those of the Chargé d'Affaires in Peking, we would propose to act on Monday 11 March as in paragraph 1(b) of my telegram No. 150, indicating to the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company contact that we would be presenting the pair at the border at 8 a.m. on Thursday 14 March, for release to China.
If we are
/ questioned
Item 285
HWB 3/20
CONFIDENTIAL
341 348.30
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