TNAG-0030-FCO40-66-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 91

Kr. Vilkinson

SECRET

This has been approved

by Mr. Mason and

The Amuster of State

has expressed agreement

438 N.. Gammare

Lv

with the firchased statement,

1114

SINC-BRITISH RELATIONS

REPLY TO THE CHINESE STATEMENT CF 8 MARCH

Flag A

410

Problem

At the Office meeting on 26 March the Secretary of State

agreed that in reply to Lo Kuei-po'a atatement of 8 March to

the Chargé d'Affaires about Sino-British relations (the principal

point of which was that the Hong Kong situation was the crux

of the matter), we should say something to the Chinese on Hong

Kong; and that Sir Donald Hopson had provided a useful first

draft. He directed that it be examined urgently in consultation

with the Commonwealth Office and the Governor of Hong Kong.

This has now been done. Approval is therefore required for

the timing and terms of our reply to the Chinese.

Recommendation

2.

I recommend that

(a) Sir D. Hopson should now be instructed to make

an cral reply to the Chinese;

(b) the reply should be in the terms of the latest

proposal put forward by the Governor of Hong Kong,

amended to take account of recent developments in

London.

Draft telegrams to Peking on these lines are attached. A

parallel submission is being made by the Commonwealth Office.

SECRET

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