TNAG-0029-FCO40-65-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 207

PEK/3

CONFIDENTIAL

& Copy to the

W.S. Carter C.v.0.

Hay Kang Apt

C.D.

始

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Of some interest

Shereme Jann Jensen

Полово

Mr. Murray 1.4/5

Mr. Marland & exta-

4/3

office of the British Chargó

d'Affaires,

Peking.

22 February, 1968.

၅ ၁ ၄ -

P

Hans Bargmann, the West German correspondent in Peking, called again recently and gave a more detailed account of his recent meeting with Fei Ming and other Chinese Communists in Hong Kong. You will recall that in his letter to Anthony Elliott of 13 February the Chargé reported the first account of his talks which Bargmann gave to us. I now report this second version, both in amplification and because there are certain differences. Bargmann is not noted for his consistency and even the report that follows had to be revised for the third time after again checking various points with him.

2. He lunched with Fei Wing in the Ta Kung Pao offices. Also present were someone called P'ang, whom Bargmann understood to be Deputy Director of NCNA Hong Kong and a Ministry of Foreign Affairs representative, and six other Chinese. The talking on the Chinese side was done virtuelly exclusively by Fei Ming and P'ang.

3. According to Bargmann, Fei Ming said that if the Britica wished to restore normal relations with China they must first establish a "normal atmosphere" in Hong Kong. To do this they would have to release all political prisoners, which numbered about 2,000, now held in Hong Kong. When Bargnana asked about the issue of exit visas for the British Mission in Peking, Fei King replied that these would only be granted when the "normal atmosphere" had been restored in the we colony.

4. Asked how he saw the future of Hong Kong, Fei Ming replied that if the British were to remain they must, in adlition to releasing the political prisoners, fulfil the following tree conditions:-

(a) Hong Kong must no longer be used by the American

forces as a base for their aggression against Vietnam;

3. T. Davies, Esq.,

Assistant Political Adviser,

Hong Kong.

CONFIDENTIAL

/(b)