TNAG-0033-FCO40-69-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 157

SECRET

CYPHER/CAT A

PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER/063

TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

9 SEPTEMBER 1968

809

SECRET

190

FOR

FOLLOWING PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY.

YOUR LETTER OF 23RD AUGUST

758

HOPSON'S DESPATCH OF 29TH JULY.

MOST OF THE GROUND OF THIS DESPATCH HAS ALREADY BEEN COVERED IN

THE SERIES OF TELEGRAMS ON SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS, 1 ACCEPT A

GOOD DEAL OF WHAT HOPSON SAYS ALTHOUGH FROM THE PURELY HONG KONG

ANGLE I WOULD OFTEN WISH TO VARY THE EMPHASIS AND TO DISPUTE

SOME AT LEAST OF HIS ASSESSMENTS.

2. IN PARTICULAR, I THINK THE DESPATCH PAYS MUCH TOO LITTLE

REGARD TO THE CONCESSIONS HONG KONG HAS ALREADY MADE AND CONTINUES

TO MAKE FOR NO APPRECIABLE RETURN. WE HAVE RECENTLY SENT YOU A

PAPER ASSESSING THE CONCESSIONS ON BOTH SIDES BUT HERE I WOULD

ESPECIALLY EMPHASISE OUR RESTRAINT IN RELATION TO THE SEDITIOUS

PRESS AND TO COMMUNIST SCHOOLS.

3. I NATURALLY AGREE THAT WE SHOULD AIM TO AVOID FURTHER FRICTION

WHEREVER WE CAN BUT IN THE ORDINARY COURSE OF MAINTAINING LAW AND

ORDER CLASHES INEVITABLY CONTINUE TO OCCUR AND MILITANT COMMUNISTS

TO GET PRISON SENTENCES.

LÁSI

目です

390

SECRET

740

THE