CONFIDENTIAL
154
COAL
He
Cypher/Cat.A.
IMMEDIATE
HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (D.T.D.)
Telno. 1641 4 November, 1967.
CONFIDENTIAL
Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No. 1641
of 4 November. Repeated for information to Peking, POLAD Singapore, Washington.
My immediately preceding telegram: Border.
and
Chinese representatives at end of discussions expressed the view that there should be no publicity of any sort for what had been arranged. On the other hand, if there were publicity from our side, they would 'match it'.
9
2. I would think it is in our interests to say as little as possible about the detail of the discussions other than major and more concrete points of agreement. If we do this, it should at least forestall Communist attempts to portray the whole
And it would be unrealistic arrangement as a propaganda victory.
to try to keep the Press off entirely.
30 We shall be taking the line locally until tomorrow that we have no further news about Knight and the two constables. When they return we cannot avoid making a brief factual state- ment on their release from detention, the text of which we will telegraph to you on issue. I do not think, however, we can avoid exposing Knight and the two policemen at least briefly to the Press; nor can we hide the fact that discussions took place at the border.
Grateful you would ensure that no statement incompatible with the above is made in London without reference to us.
40
Foreign Office please pass Priority Washington 359
and Peking 608.
Sir D. Trench
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
C.O. Hong Kong Dept.
I. & G. Dept.
F.E. & P.D.
News Dept.
Defence Dept.
[Repeated as requested]
F.O, FE. Dept. News Dept. J.I.R.D. J.I.P.G.D,
DIS M.O.D.
44444
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