TNAG-0034-FCO40-70-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 111

Ed (4206)

Mr. Hall1

TOP SEGRET

Reference..

382

I attach a copy of a Foreign Office

submission on Sino-British relations.

Paragraphs 2-9 are of direct concern to us in that they relate to the informal approach for discussions about Hong Kong (purporting to come from Chou En-lai) which was made recently to the Governor of Hong Kong and was reported in his

Top Secret telegram No.331.

2. I submit the recommendation in paragraph 3 for the Minister of State's concurrence.

already

La

Mr. Rodgers has approved it without submitting

to the Foreign Secretary.

3. You will recall that in our discussions

with the Foreign Office we concluded that there

were no undue risks involved in testing the

bona fides of this apparent Chinese initiative on the lines proposed by the Governor in paragraph 5 of his telegram No.330.

4. A further submission will shortly be made

on follow-up action to be taken now that the

Chinese have refused to accept the return of the film stars (paragraph 6(b) of the submission and H.K. Telegram No.344). The Foreign Office is also up-dating an earlier submission (not considered by Mr Brown) on general policy in

Sino-British relations; this will cover the question of relaxing restrictions on the Chinese Mission and ancillary organisations (NCNA and Bank of China) in London and the proposal that Sir Donald Hopson, might be recalled

for consultations.

W.5. Carter

19 March, 1968.

(W. S. Carter)