TNAG-0029-FCO40-65-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 181

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EDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno 176 8 March, 1968

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FREECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 63)

1 2 MAR 1968

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12

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 176 of 8 March, Repeated for information to Hong Kong, POLAD Singapore and Washington.

342 My teino 174:

Sino-British Relations.

Lo began by saying that he had asked me to come to discuss current questions in Sino-British relations and that he would make an oral statement on instructions of the Chinese Government. Ou

7 February Cradock, on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, had put forward proposals concerning restoration of normal movement of the Chinese and British officials and settlement of Grey case.

オール

wished to make a statement of the Chinese position on the question of Sino-British relations which he requested me to convey to Her Majesty's Government.

2.

As the British Government clearly knew grave deterioration in Sino- British relations since last May had been the result of a massive suppression and persecution of Chinese residents in Hong Kong by British authorities. The British Government should be held solely responsible for the deterioration in relations between the two countries, and inter- ferance in freedom of movement of diplomatic staff, trade etc. The Chinese Government had exercised restraint in Hong Kong, taken positive steps to relax situation on Shunchun border and to alleviate tension but up to today Hong Kong Government had not completely stopped its suppression. Many patriots were still unjustifiably in jail and there had been no compensation for loss of life and property, nor had necessary arrangements been made effectively to guarantee rights of Chinese residents in Hong Kong which included right to study Mao and engage in other patriotic activities.

3.

Chinese Government had clearly pointed out on many occasions that Hong Kong problem was crux of Sino-British relations and there could be no talk of normalisation if question of Hong Kong were left aside. Lo said that in your letter of September 2 to Ch'en Yi you had expressed willingness of Her Majesty's Government to seek good relations with China and hope relations between the two countries could be discussed frankly and dispassionately. Now British Government had put forward proposals concerning entry and exit visas for Chinese personnel and was prepared to put forward their views. It must be pointed out however that these were only secondary matters in whole question of current relations and as British Government recognised problem of Hong Kong was directly and indirectly linked with a general solution. If Hong Kong problem were brushed aside it would be difficult for discussions to be fruitful. To this day British Government had failed to reply to various demands put forward by Chinese Government in connexion with Hong Kong problem. This [gp undec] but raises doubt about whether there was a sincere desire on British side to normalise relations between the two countries. all he wished to say.

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That was

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