TNAG-0038-FCO40-74-Border-incidents-with-China-1967 — Page 11

CONFIDENTIAL

FOREIGN OFFICE TELEGRAM NO. 884 TO PEKING

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5. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SHEN PING WAS UNAWARE OF THE INCIDENT EXCEPT FOR WHAT HE MAY HAVE READ IN THE LONDON PRESS THIS MORNING. THE FACT THAT HE REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HE WOULD TRANSMIT OUR REPRESENTATIONS MAY MEAN THAT HE WAS WITHOUT INSTRUCTIONS.

IF HE DOES REPORT THE INTERVIEW TO PEKING IT IS LIKELY TO BE TENDENTIOUS AND INACCURATE. IF YOU HAVE NOT YET BEEN ABLE TO TAKE ACTION ON MY TELEGRAM NUMBER 882 PLEASE DO SO AS URGENTLY AS YOU CAN, BY A PERSONAL CALL AT THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IF POSSIBLE.

6.

MEANWHILE WE ARE TELLING THE PRESS THAT SHEN PING WAS ASKED TO BRING THE MATTER TO THE URGENT ATTENTION OF HIS GOVERNMENT AND TO TRANSMIT TO THEM H.M.G.'S REQUEST FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF MR. KNIGHT.

7.

FOR HONG KONG. IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO HAVE FULLER DETAILS OF THE INCIDENT THAN ARE GIVEN IN YOUR TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE.

SOSFA

SENT 15302 15 OCTOBER

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

C.0. H.K. DEPT.

I. AND G. DEPT.

NEWS DEPT.

D.T.C.D.

J.I.P.G.D.

J.I.R.D.

J.R.D.

OVERSEAS LABOUR ADVISER

OVERSEAS POLICE ADVISER

CONSULAR DEPT. F.E. AND P.D.

F.O. F.E.D.

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CONFIDENTIAL