TNAG-0038-FCO40-74-Border-incidents-with-China-1967 — Page 10

CONFIDENTIAL

CYPHER/CAT A. AND BY BAG

IMMEDIATE FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING

TELNO 884

15 OCTOBER, 1967

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(H.K.D.)

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ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 884 OF 15 OCTOBER

REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG SINGAPORE (POLAD), SAVING TO WASHINGTON.

HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 1530

INCIDENT AT MAN KAM TO.

ނތ

762107

TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE:

ON MY INSTRUCTIONS DE LA MARE SUMMONED THE ACTING CHINESE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES AT NOON TODAY. THE INTERVIEW BEGAN IN A LOW KEY:

DE LA MARE STATED THE FACTS, ASKED WHETHER THE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES WAS AWARE OF THEM AND ASKED HIM TO REPORT OUR REPRESENTATIONS TO HIS GOVERNMENT WITH A REQUEST THAT MR. KNIGHT BE RETURNED IMMEDIATELY AND UNHARMED TO BRITISH TERRITORY.

2. SHEN PING SAID HE WAS UNAWARE OF THE INCIDENT BUT THAT IF AN INCIDENT HAD TAKEN PLACE IT COULD ONLY BE DUE TO PROVOCATION FROM OUR SIDE. HE MADE THE USUAL TIRADE ABOUT FASCIST ATROCITIES AND QUOTE BLOODY SUPPRESSION UNQUOTE OF COMPATRIOTS IN HONG KONG AND DWELT UPON THE ALLEGED SABOTAGE BY THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES OF CHINESE NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATIONS THERE.

3. DE LA MARE ASKED FOR A REPLY TO HIS QUESTION WHETHER SHEN PING WOULD IMMEDIATELY INFORM HIS GOVERNMENT OF OUR REPRESENTATIONS BUT THIS WAS MET WITH ANOTHER TIRADE OF ABUSE AND THE QUESTIONS REMAINED UNANSWERED. SHEN PING SAID THAT IT WAS UP TO US TO ANSWER THE QUOTE JUST DEMANDS UNQUOTE IN THE CHINESE NOTE OF OCTOBER 9.

4.

IN THE COURSE OF THE EXCHANGE SHEN PING COMPLAINED OF BEING SUMMONED ON A SUNDAY. HE DESCRIBED DE LA MARE AS QUOTE TRUCULENT, UNREASONABLE AND IMPERIALIST UNQUOTE. DE LA MARE SAID THAT HE WAS UNAWARE THAT THE CHINESE IN PEKING DIFFERENTIATED BETWEEN ONE- DAY AND ANOTHER EITHER IN SUMMONING YOU OR BURNING DOWN FOREIGN EMBASSIES. HE PRESSED FOR A REPLY TO OUR QUESTION AT WHICH SHEN PING GOT UP AND LEFT SHOUTING ABUSE.

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