TNAG-0031-FCO40-67-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 162

CONFIDENTIAL

566

1512,

Cypher/Cat A

PRIORITY

Telno 669

HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

CONFIDENTIAL

25 May 1968

44

Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No. 669 of 25 May. Repeated for information to Peking.

2.

Foreign Office telegram No. 547 to Peking.

We would be prepared to release Walden any time in June.

With reference to the last sentence of paragraph 2 of Peking telegram No. 334, we would be grateful for Peking's views on timing of collection of entry visas now available in Hong Kong for Laughtons and Walden. Would immediate collection of entry visas expedite issue of exit visas, or might this lead the Chinese to believe that we are prepared to send in new staff before their predecessors are permitted to leave.

3. A relevant point is whether the visas which have been issued are valid for one month only. Could Peking check this with M.F.A.

Foreign Office pass Priority Peking No. 252.

Sir D. Trench

FILES

Personnel Dept. Welfare Section H.K. Dept. F.E.D.

P.C.D.

[Repeated as requested]

LAVI

567

RECEIVED ARCHIVE

HWP3/

QQQQQ

CONFIDENTIAL

1

$30/5

p.a.