TNAG-0029-FCO40-65-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 23

Mr. Wilkinson

SECRET

4/409

SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS

The Secretary of State is to hold a meeting on 26 March

to review Sino-British relations. The purpose of this minute

is to describe the present state of relations, set cut the

principal problems (many of them inter-connected) for decision,

and make proliminary recommendations.

given in Annexes.

INTRODUCTION

Supplementary detail is

2. The Chargé d'Affaires in Peking was surroned by Vice-

Minister for Foreign Affairs Lo Kuei-po on 8 March to receive

a statement to the effect that the Hong Kong situation was the

crux of Sino-British rolations; that the British Government

must reply to various demands put forward by the Chinese

Government on this subject; and that only thereafter would

it be possible to discuss "secondary matters".

3.

The "secondary nattera" which we now have at issue with

the Chinese are:-

(a) The detention, without consular access, since

last July of Mr. Gray, Reuters correspondent in

Feking.

(b) The refusal of exit vigas (and also of entry vises)

for our Mission in Peking, except in a few very

special cases.

SECRET

/(c)