TNAG-0029-FCO40-65-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 188

Cypher/Cat A

CONFIDENTIAL

PRIORITY PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno 168 7 March 1968

NFIDENTIAL

338

PRECL ARCHIVE

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 168 of 7 March Repeated for information to Hong Kong

(326A)

326 A) My telegram No. 152: Prison visits.

1 2 MAR 1968

HWB 3/2

If there has been no approach from NCNA (Hong Kong) to Political Adviser by end of this week I suggest that Political Adviser might make contact with them, reference my conversation with Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 1 March, enquiring when they are likely to be able to provide detailed information on basis of which visits can be arranged. My reasons for suggesting are:

(a) NCNA (Hong Kong) may through some misunderstanding be expecting Political Adviser to approach them rather than vice versa;

(b) Or they may insist first move come from him;

(c) We shall get some idea of NCNA (Hong Kong's) attitude,

which may enable us to go back to Ministry of Foreign Affairs here to iron out any difficulties.

Even if reason for NCNA's inaction is simply slowness of Chinese machine I do not think that such an approach would do harm.

Foreign Office pass Priority Hong Kong 108.

Sir D. Hopson

[Repeated as requested]

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.O. F.E.D.

C.O. Hong Kong Dept.

S.A.D.

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CONFIDENTIAL

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NGAI

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