TNAG-0032-FCO40-68-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 76

Cypher/Cat A

IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno. 740

12 August 1968

CONFIDENTIAL

חרי

C FIDENTIAL

Addressed to F.0. telegram No. 740 of 12 August Repeated for information to:

Hong Kong.

My telegram No. 739. 770)

The Press Corps here will get news of my visa today and will of course report it. I therefore suggest that News Department should issue an immediate statement. It is I think important that it should bring home. the point that there are still 13 applications long out- standing for staff, including women and children. The interview this morning made it plain that the Chinese are not going to grant all our visas at once. They may in fact consider that having disgorged mine they have bought a lot of time and can go very slowly in granting remaining applications. In order to disabuse them it seems essential to keep up publicity pressure.

2. The statement might take the following lines.

Begins.

་

The Chinese M.F.A. today granted an exit visa to Sir Donald Hopson. We are naturally very encouraged by this latest news. There are, however 13 applications still outstanding including women and children, applications made as far back as May this year.

Ends.

F.O. pass Immediate Hong Kong

Sir D. Hopson

[Repeated as requested]

HWR 3/

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

F.0.

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.E.D. News Dept.

C.0. H.K.D.

D.S.A.0. Personnel Dept.

AE.

REF.

77777

LAST REF

770

CONFIDENTI AL

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