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THEIR RIGHT TO DO SO WAS NOT BEING PROPERLY AND EFFECTIVELY ENSURED.
FOR THEIR PART, THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAD ADOPTED AN ATTITUDE OF RESTRAINT AND TAKEN CERTAIN STEPS TO RELAX TENSION IN THE BORDER AREA NEAR SHUM CHUN. THE CRUX OF THE ABNORMAL STATE OF RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES WAS HONG KONG. IF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WISHED TO IMPROVE RELATIONS THEY SHOULD TAKE POSITIVE ACTION TO RESOLVE PROBLEMS THERE.
10. REVERTING TO THE EXIT VISAS SHEN PING SAID THAT HE HAD THAT MORNING RECEIVED OUR NOTE CANCELLING THE REQUIREMENT OF EXIT PERMITS FOR CHINESE OFFICIALS. HE WOULD REPORT THIS TO HIS GOVERNMENT. IT WAS, HOWEVER, WRONG TO ASSERT THAT THE BRITISH MISSION AND OTHER, BRITISH SUBJECTS IN CHINA WERE BEING HELD AS HOSTAGES SINCE THE TOTALLY UNJUSTIFIED AND DISCRIMINATORY ACTION AGAINST CHINESE OFFICIALS IN LONDON HAD
ONLY JUST CEASED. MOREOVER A NUMBER OF EXIT VISAS HAD BEEN GRANTED IN PEKING QUOTE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPECIFIC CONDITIONS OF THE APPLICATIONS UNQUOTE AND THIS WAS PROOF THAT THE CONDUCT OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WAS NEITHER UNCIVILISED NOR INHUMANE.
11. MR. RODGERS, IN REPLY. POINTED OUT THAT WHATEVER THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE WATT CASE OUR MISSION SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN INFORMATION AT AN EARLY STAGE. WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO MAKE A CONSULAR VISIT AND TO ATTEND THE TRIAL. HE SIMPLY WISHED NOW TO REPEAT OUR DEMAND FOR CONSULAR ACCESS. ON GREY, MR. RODGERS AGAIN EMPHASISED THAT WE WISHED TO MAKE PROGRESS IN ORDER THAT A VISIT WOULD BE POSSIBLE. HE ALSO ASKED THE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES TO OBTAIN, INFORMATION ABOUT BARRYMAINE, CROUCH
AND JONES AND TAKE A VERY EARLY OPPORTUNITY TO INFORM US WHY THEY WERE BEING DETAINED AND TO ARRANGE CONSULAR ACCESS. MR. RODGERS CONCLUDED BY SAYING THAT WE RECOGNISED THE IMPORTANCE WHICH THE
CHINESE ATTACH TO MATTERS CONCERNING HONG KONG. WE WISHED TO DEAL WITH OUTSTANDING PROBLEMS IN A CIVILISED WAY AND RESOLVE THEM TO OUR MUTUAL ADVANTAGE. PRESS AND PARLIAMENTARY INTEREST
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CONFIDENTIAL
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