CONFIDENTIAL
15g
Cypher/Cat A
VEDIATE
Telno 1640
CONFIDENTIAL
HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (DTD)
4 November 1967
Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No. 1640 of 4 November.
Repeated for information to Peking, Washington and POLAD Singapore.
My telegram 1633: Border.
Our Representatives went across at 1300 hours and returned at 1930 hours. The discussions although protracted were conducted in what they described as'a very friendly atmosphere'. There was little attempt by the Chinese Representatives to make propaganda points. Agreement was reached as follows:
(a) The Man Kam To Bridge would be completely free from obstruction by 1715 hours on 4 November.
(b) The four fishermen and Iu Kwong Wai would be returned at Lo Wu Bridge at 1700 hours on 4 November.
(c) Inspector Knight, the two police constables, the sterling gun and magazines and the constable's motorcycle would be returned at Lo Wu at 1715 hours on the 4 November. This would coincide with the opening of the Man Kam To Bridge and would take place after the persons receiving (by this their relatives and friends are understood but of course it could mean a mob) Chinese returnees had left the Chinese side of Lo Wu Bridge.
(a) The secondary and now useless fence between Man Kam To and Lo Wu would be realigned to avoid fields belonging to farmers from Chinese territory by midnight on 8 November
(e) Work on the realignment of the secondary fence outside the sector in (a) would commence on 9 November. It was understood that the Chinese would not interfere with the realignment in any sector provided that traditional crossing points were not blocked.
(f) The question of how much by way of ex gratia payment should be made to cover the losses of Chinese farmers as a result of the closing of the Man Kam To Bridge would be the subject of assessment by our experts on 4 November and negotiations between these experts and the farmers on 6 November. In the event it was not possible to block the request as proposed in your paragraph 2 of 2235 as it became necessary to agree to payment on the stipulation that it would only be considered for people not involved in the abduction of Knight or any other acts of violence on the border.
(g) Compensation for the graves destroyed by military works at Man Kam To would be decided upon on 6 November.
RE
152
154
/(h)
CONFIDENTIAL
AWAY/1
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