TNAG-0030-FCO40-66-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 114

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HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 438 TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

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6. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT DO NOT SHARE CHINESE VIEWS THAT IN THE

ABSENCE OF A SETTLEMENT OF DIFFERENCES OVER HONG KONG OTHER

PROBLEMS IN SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS CANNOT IN THE MEANTIME BE

PROFITABLY DISCUSSED. ON THE CONTRARY, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT

BELIEVE THAT FAILURE TO APPROACH OTHER QUESTIONS IN A CONSTRUCTIVE

SPIRIT CAN ONLY OBSTRUCT FRUITFUL CONSIDERATION OF PRESENT DIFFICUL-

IES IN HONG KONG. FOR EXAMPLE, THE CONTINUING FAILURE TO RESTORE

NORMAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS IN LONDON AND

PEKING, WHICH IS CONTRARY TO INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC PRACTICE,

CAN ONLY THROW DOUBT UPON THE LIKELIHOOD OF ACHIEVING RESULTS IN

NEGOTIATION ON OTHER MATTERS AND SERIOUSLY IMPEDE THE REGULAR

DIPLOMATIC INTERCOURSE WHICH IS NECESSARY FOR THAT PURPOSE.

THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ARE READY TO SETTLE T E MOVEMENTS PROBLEM

0 THE LINES SUGGESTED BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT IN JANUARY: THEY

LOOK TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT FOR AN EARLY RESPONSE ON THIS

MATTER. THEY ALSO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY OF RECORDING YE AGAIN

THEIR GRAVE CONCERN AT THE POSITION OF CERTAIN BRITISH SUBJECTS

DETAINED IN CHINA.

7. IN CONCLUSION, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT REAFFIRM THEIR INTEREST

IN AND SINCERE DESIRE FOR A FULL NORMALISATION OF SINO-BRITISH

RELATIONS. THEY ARE OF THE OPINION THAT THE SOLUTION OF PROBLEMS

EXISTING BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES SHOULD BE APPROACHED IN A SPIRIT

OF SINCERITY AND GOOD FAITH. FAILURE TO ACHIEVE SUCH A SOLUTION IS

BOUND TO BE TO THE LOSS OF ALL PARTIES CONCERNED.

/F.O. PLEASE PACS

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