TNAG-0033-FCO40-69-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 164

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3. MR. FOLEY THEN WENT OVER THE CASES OF THE SELFS AND THE CROZIERS, SHEN P'ING REPLIED THAT THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN SHANGHAI WERE

DEALING WITH THESE SPECIFIC CASES. MR. FOLEY RECALLED THAT HIS PRE-

DECESSOR HAD SOUGHT INFORMATION ABOUT THE CASES OF OTHER BRITISH

SUBJECTS KNOWN OR BELIEVED TO BE IN DETENTION. HE THEN WENT THROUGH

THESE CASES INDIVIDUALLY AND PRESSED ONCE AGAIN FOR DETAILS OF CHARGES, IF ANY, AND CONSULAR ACCESS. SHEN PING SAID GREY'S FREEDOM HAD BEEN LIMITED BECAUSE OF UNREASONABLE ARREST OF N.C.N.A.

CORRESPONDENTS AND OTHER PATRIOTIC JOURNALISTS IN HONG KONG. THE OTHER CASES WERE BEING EXAMINED AND HE THEREFORE HAD NOTHING TO ADD.

4. FINALLY MR. FOLEY REITERATED THE ANXIETY OF H.M.G. TO IMPROVE

RELATIONS WITH CHINE. ANY STEPS BY THE CHINESE TO GRANT CONSULAR

ACCESS IN ACCORDANCE WITH NORMAL INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE AND

PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING CHARGES, IF ANY, WOULD BE A VALUABLE

SIGN OF IMPROVEMENT. SHEN P'ING SAID HE HAD HEARD SUCH WORDS ON MANY PREVIOUS OCCASIONS BUT THE ACTIONS OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT BELIED THEIR WORDS. RECENTLY THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES IN HONG KONG HAD UNJUSTLY DEREGISTERED THE CHUNG WAH SCHOOL. THIS WAS A SERIOUS

POLITICAL PROVOCATION AGAINST CHINESE PATRIOTIC EDUCATIONAL UNDER- TAKINGS IN HONG KONG AND AGAINST THE STAFF OF THE SCHOOL. IT WAS A SERIOUS POLITICAL ACT AGAINST THE CHINESE PEOPLE AND THEIR PATRIOTIC COUNTRYMEN IN HONG KONG. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HOPED THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES WOULD DEMONSTRATE THEIR ANXIETY FOR A SETTLEMENT OF DIFFERENCES BY DEEDS RATHER THAN WORDS. SHEN PING SAID THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAD SHOWN SELF RESTRAINT OVER HONG KONG.

5. SHEN P'ING'S REMARKS WERE DELIVERED WITHOUT HEAT.

6. FULL REPORT FOLLOWS BY BAG.

SOSFA

FO/CO/WH. DISTRIBUTION

F.E.D.

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