TNAG-0032-FCO40-68-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 270

ادعاء

EN CLAIR

FEIGN OFFICE TO PEKING

20. 733

UNCLASSIFIED

8 JULY 1968 (FE)

DAILY MAIL OF 8 JULY CARRIES ARTICLE BY

DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT, JOHN DICKIE, HEADED QUOTE PEKING HOLDS OUR MAN HOSTAGE UNQUOTE.

FOLLOWING IS FULL TEXT:

CHINA HAS WARNED THAT SHE INTENDS TO KEEP SIR DONALD HOPSON, BRITISH CHARGE D'AFFIARS, AS A VIRTUAL HOSTAGE IN PEKING.

SIR DONALD WAS TO HAVE RETURNED HOME THIS MONTH FOR LONG

OVERDUE LEAVE AND REASSIGNMENT. HE HAS NOT SEEN HIS WIFE, DENISE, FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.

LADY HOPSON LEFT PEKING FOR A HOLIDAY WITH HER 17-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, DANIELLE, IN FRANCE LAST JULY, JUST BEFORE RED QUARDS BURNED AND LOOTED THE BRITISH MISSION.

HER HUSBAND APPLIED FOR AN EXIT VISA FOR THE FIRST TIME RECENTLY AFTER SEVERAL OF HIS STAFF HAD BEEN ALLOWED TO LEAVE AND SOME REPLACENENTS - ADLITTED.

TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN LIFTED ON ALL CHINESE DIPLOMATS IN LONDON WHO ARE NOW FREE TO ENTER OR LEAVE BRITAIN WITHOUT SPECIAL PERMISSION.

CHILL

BUT CHINA ANSWERED BLUNTLY THAT IT WOULD NOT BE ''APPROPRIATE" TO GRANT THE BRITISH CHARGE D'AFFAIRS A VISA IN THE LIGHT OF PRESENT RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.

NEW

A

CHINA EXPERTS IN LONDON BELIEVE HE IS THE VICTIM OF CHILL WIND BLOWING IN BRITAIN'S DIRECTION. THE BAN ON SIR DONALD COINCIDED WITH A PEKING COURT'S DECISION LAST WEEK TO CANCEL A £2,500,00Y CONTRACT WITH THE BRITISH FIRM OF VICKERS-ZIMMER.

THE FIRM WAS ACCUSED OF EMPLOYING SPIES AND ORDERED TO PAY CHINA'S TECHNICAL IMPORT CORPORATION C659,000 COMPENSATION.

SIXTEEN BRITISH SUBJECT INCLUDING A BOY OF 11 AND A WOMAN

OF 62, ARE DETAINED AT PRESENT IN CHINA.

SOSFA

FILES

F.0.

C.0.

F.E.D.

NEWS DEPT. RESEARCH DEPT.

I.R.D.

H.K.D.

658

HWD3/2

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