TNAG-0029-FCO40-65-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 80

Cypher/Cat A

CONFIDENTIAL

FLASH PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

T 0 241

25 March, 1968

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CONFIDENTIAL

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 241 of 25 March. Repeated for information to:

Hong Kong.

399 When I saw Hsueh this afternoon about prison visits (my telegram

No. 239) he raised the matter of Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Lo Kuei-po's interview with me on 8 March. He recalled that

Lo Kuei-po had said that Hong Kong is crux of Sino-British relations that other matters are secondary and that if we had a really true desire to improve Sino-British we could not put Hong Kong on one side. On Hong Kong Lo Kuei-po had said that British authorities have not ceased suppression of compatriots, they had failed to compensate the Chinese inhabitants for losses and damages, and they had not guaranteed the right to study and propagate Mao's thoughts.

2. Hsueh went on to say the Chinese had made a series of demands to which they had had no answer from the British side. If we were sincere we should hurry up and make an early reply on the main question. Hsueh said that while specific questions could be discussed we should not create side issues or raise obstructions on these for this would be of no benefit to Sino British relations. For example, the Chinese side had said they could consider the question of visits to Mr. Grey but first it was necessary to arrange special visits to patriotic journalists as they had proposed. Only then could Grey be considered. Their proposal had been made on this matter before the Spring Festival since when two months had passed and there was still no solution. Again we had so far obstructed import of 5000 tons of rice and winter clothing for the comfort of imprisoned compatriots. But all these were only secondary issues. The Chinese side was hoping for a speedy reply to demands raised by Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Lo Kuei-po as an indication of our sincerity. Minor matters could after that be readily solved.

See my immediately following telegram. C.O. pass Immediate Hong Kong No. 168.

Sir D. Hopson

[Repeated as requested].

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.0. Far Eastern Dept.

Consular Dept.

Defence Dept. and P.U.S.D. Passport Control Dept. J.I.R.D.

O.L.A.

News Dept.

C.O. Hong Kong Dept.

News Dept.

I. and G. Dept.

F.E. and P. Dept.

D.S.A.0.

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Personnel Dept. Communications Dept.

D.W.S.

ADVANCE COPIES SENT.

399

REF.

408

CONFIDENTIAL