TNAG-0032-FCO40-68-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 103

CONFIDENTIAL

ONWEALTH OFFICE TELEGRAM NO. 1375 TO HONG KONG

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IF THEREFORE YOU FELT THAT THE SITUATION IN HONG KONG IS NOW SUCH THAT YOU COULD CONTEMPLATE AN ACT OF CLEMENCY OUR PRESENT INCLIN- ATION WOULD BE TO INSTRUCT THE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES TO PUT A PROPOS- ITION ON THE FOREGOING LINES TO THE CHINESE, EXPLAINING THAT, IN ADDITION TO OUR CONCERN FOR GREY, OUR PURPOSE WAS TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE WANTED A RETURN TO NORMAL IN SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS. 4. WE SHOULD THEN HAVE TO CONSIDER THE NEXT STEP IN THE LIGHT OF THE CHINESE REPLY. WE SHOULD THEREFORE BE MOST GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD CONSIDER THIS MATTER ON TWO HYPOTHESES:

(A) THAT UNEXPECTEDLY- WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE SOME SORT OF UNDER-

STANDING WITH THE CHINESE:

(B) THAT THE CHINESE REPLY, ALTHOUGH NOT COMPLETELY NEGATIVE,

NEVERTHELESS FELL FAR SHORT OF ANYTHING THAT COULD BE REGARDED

AS AN UNDERSTANDING.

LOOKING AT IT FROM MOST ANGLES OTHER THAN THE EFFECT IN HONG KONG ITSELF, WE WOULD INCLINE TO THE VIEW THAT, EVEN IN THE CASE OF (B); AN ACT OF FAITH FOR THE SAKE OF GREY WOULD, ON HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS, BE WORTH TAKING, BUT OF COURSE WE RECOGNISE THAT THE PARAMOUNT CONSIDERATION MUST BE THE LIKELY EFFECT IN HONG KONG AND WE CAN WELL SEE THAT IT MIGHT BE MUCH EASIER TO RECONCILE HONG KONG PUBLIC OPINION TO AN ACT OF CLEMENCY IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES AT (A) THAN IN THOSE AT (B). BUT WE SHOULD LIKE YOUR ASSESSMENT ON WHETHER, IN THE SITUATION AS YOU NOW SEE IT IN HONG KONG, IT WOULD BE AT ALL POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO CONTEMPLATE AN ACT OF CLEMENCY ON AN ACT OF FAITH'' BASIS, 1.E. IN CIRCUMSTANCES ENVISAGED AT (B) ABOVE. 5. WHILE WE HAVE FELT IT RIGHT TO ASK YOU TO REVIEW THIS MATTER ONCE AGAIN IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS SINCE LAST MAY, THERE IS OF COURSE NO QUESTION OF OUR SEEKING TO PERSUADE YOU TO TAKE ANY ACTION WHICH IN YOUR CONSIDERED JUDGMENT WOULD ENTAIL UNACCEPTABLE

RISKS IN HONG KONG.

CROSEC

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

C.O.

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H.K. DEPT.

F.O.

F.E.D.

NEWS DEPT.

CONSULAR DEPT.

CONFIDENTIAL