TNAG-0030-FCO40-66-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 102

CONFIDENTIAL

Cypher/Cat.A

PRIORITY HONG KONG

ΤΟ

COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

Telno. 453

9 April 1968

CONFIDENTIAL

Hw

438

Addressed Commonwealth Office telegram No. 453 of 9 April. Repeated for information to Peking.

420 My telegram No. 425:

Prison Visits.

Visits took place at Stanley this morning as arranged. 13 prisoners were visited as two more Wen Wei Pao labourers were released on 5 April on completion of sentence. Two female journalists will be visited tomorrow at Laichikok prison.

2.

Some of the prisoners had visits lasting up to 30 minutes. Length of visits totalled 6 hours 20 minutes in all. No photography or gifts were allowed, and a prison official was present. Assistant Political Adviser supervised entry, No difficulties arose.

3. NCNA agreed to repect confidential nature of talks, but will probably publicise actual visits. Our line with the Press will be:-

(a) Visits were arranged at the discretion of the Commissioner of Prisons.

(b) Arrangements were co-ordinated with the people concerned through our normal channels.

(c) If question of connexion with Grey case is raised we are saying simply that case was not considered here; but that visits reflected improved atmosphere in Sino-Hong Kong relations which government is naturally anxious to promote.

Commonwealth Office pass Priority Peking 165.

Sir D. Trench

Repetition to Peking referred for Departmental decision]

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

NOZZED IN CURVES NO. 63

10 APR 1968

C.O.

H.K.D. F.E.P.D.

News Dept.

F.0.

F.E.D.

SSSSS

Defence Dept. P.U.S.D.

Consular Dept.

P.C.D.

J.I.R.D.

News Dept.

LAST

420 1409

CONFIDENTIAL

HWA 3/2