TNAG-0030-FCO40-66-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 99

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The British Government also take this

opportunity to point out that it is always

open to individuals who believe themselves to

have been wrongfully injured or their property

to have been wrongfully damaged to seek redress

by normal legal process.

The British Government do not share

เ

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 difficulties in Hong Kong. For example,

the continuing failure to restore normal movement

for diplomatists, which is contrary to inter-

national 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 the movements

problem on the lines suggested by the Chinese

Government in January and to this end have already

lifted the requirement for exit visas from the

United Kingdom; outstanding applications for

entry visas have been granted, and future

applications will be dealt with in the normal

way. They hope that this will be matched by

early action on the part of the Chinese

Government.

They

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