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CYP HER/CAT A
PRIORITY HONG KONG
16
TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELEGRA MNUMBER 2031
27 SEPTEMBER 1968.
fys
P SECRET
ниор
ADDRESSED CO TELNO 2031 OF 27TH SEPTEMBER RFI PEKING AND PA
SINGAPORE.
MY TELEGRAM 2030 : GREY.
I HAVE THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS ON THESE TWO MEETINGS.-
(A) IT IS BY NO MEANS CLEAR WHAT COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT HAS HAD
WITH PEKING, BUT I AM INCLINED TO THINK HE HAS PROBABLY HAD SOME
GUIDANCE THROUGH LI.
(B) IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE MESSAGE INTENDED TO BE CONVEYED
IS THAT THE PRICE DEMANDED BY PEKING FOR GREY IS THE RELEASE
OF ALL 15 NEWS WORKERS.
(C) I AM INCLINED, HOWEVER, TO BELIEVE THAT CONTACT MEANS TO
CONVEY EXACTLY WHAT HE HAS SAID 1.E. THAT WE SHALL GET NOWHERE
BY TRYING TO PROPOSE A BARGAIN, OTHER THAN BY AGREEING TO
UNACCEPTABLE TERMS. THE SUPPORTING ARGUMENT THAT DISCRIMINATION
IN FAVOUR OF THE NONA AND AGAINST THE OTHERS IMPRISONED WOULD
PRODUCE EMBARRASSMENT FOT THE COMMUNISTS IN HONG KONG RINGS TRUE..
(D) EVEN IF ONE DOES NOT ACCEPT (C) ABOVE, IT IS DIFFICULT TO
BELIEVE THAT WE COULD MAKE PROGRESS IN PROPOSING A BARGAIN
TACT'
་་
THROUGH THIS CHANNEL OR ANY OTHER. FURTHERMORE, IN VIEW OF
CONTACT S FIRM ADVICE THAT TO INDICATE WILLINGNESS TO BARGAIN
WOULD RESULT IN DIFFICULTIES AND FURTHER DANGERS IN THE FUTURE,
I FEAR I MUST NOW ADVISE, THAT, FOR THE PRESENT, TO PROCEED WITH
THIS ATTEMPT TO NEGOTIATE AN EXCHANGE WOULD CONSTITUTE AN UN-
ACCEPTABLE RISK TO HONG KONG CYOUR TELEGRAM 1375 PARAGRAPH 5
HONGKONG
REFERS).
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/(E) ASSUMING CONTACT
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