TNAG-0039-FCO40-75-Border-incidents-with-China-1967 — Page 98

175

CONFIDENTIAL

CYPHER/CAT A

INMEDIA FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING

TEL NO.965 6 NOVEMBER 1967 (F.E.D.)

CONFIDENTIAL

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TEL NO. 965 OF 6 NOVEMBER REPEATED FOR

INFORMATION TO HONG KONG.

(169)

YOUR TEL NO. 218 HONG KONG BORDER.

FOLLOWING IS PRESENT POSITION, AS GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG FEARS CHINESE MAY INTEND TO PRESS US FOR MORE CONCESSIONS, HE HAS SENT HOLDING MESSAGE THROUGH N.C.N.A. STATING THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING NEW SITUATION WHICH HAS NOW ARISEN AND POINTING OUT WE HAVE NOT

RECEIVED REPLIES TO ENQUIRIES ABOUT POINTS WHICH THE CHINESE WISHED TO RAISE NOR EXPLANATION OF WHY MEETINGS COULD NOT BE HELD ON ALTERNATIVE SIDES OF THE BORDER.

2. IN LIGHT OF THE CHINESE REACTION, GOVERNOR PROPOSED THAT A FURTHER MESSAGE BE SENT SUGGESTING THAT BOTH SIDES CLARIFY THE ARRANGEMENTS

THEY ARE PREPARED TO ACCEPT BY MEANS OF VERBAL OR WRITTEN STATE- MENTS. COMMONWEALTH OFFICE, IN CONSULTATION WITH OURSELVES, HAVE

AGREED THAT IT WOULD BE WISE TO OBTAIN CLARIFICATION OF CHINESE

INTENTIONS BEFORE A FURTHER MEETING IS HELD BUT EXPRESSED CONSID-

ERABLE DOUBT ABOUT PUTTING ANY AGREEMENT IN WRITING OR USING N.C.N.A.

AS CHANNEL FOR DISCUSSION OF SUBSTANTIVE QUESTIONS. WE HAVE ALSO

INDICATED THAT WE ACCEPT THAT ANY FURTHER MEETINGS WOULD ALMOST

CERTAINLY HAVE TO BE HELD ON THE CHINESE SIDE.

3. FINAL CONSIDERATION OF TACTICS WILL BE MADE IN THE LIGHT OF

CHINESE REACTION TO LATEST MESSAGE THROUGH N.C.N.A. WE DO NOT

REPEAT NOT THINK THAT FURTHER ACTION IN PEKING IS NECESSARY IN THE

MEANTIME.

SOSFA

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION:

FO: F.E.D.

CO: HONG KONG DEPT.

LAST RET

169.

1.2.

AU

&&&&&

CONFIDENTIAL