CONFIDENTIAL
CYPHER/CAT A
FLASH COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TO
HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1384
13 AUGUST 1968.
(HK)
CONFIDENTIAL.
ADDRESSED TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 1384 OF 13 AUGUST
REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING.
FOLLOWING PERSONAL FROM GALSWORTHY.
8
YOUR TELEGRAM TO PEKING NO. 344, PARAGRAPH 5.
I KNOW SAME THOUGHT WILL HAVE BEEN EXERCISING YOUR MIND AS IT HAS OURS IN THE PAST 48 HOURS, NAMELY WHAT TO DO ABOUT CHUNG WAM SCHOOL SHOULD HOPSON'S ARRIVAL IN HONG KONG BE DELAYED BEYOND AFTERNOON OF 14TH. I AM NOT THINKING SO MUCH IN TERMS OF A DELIBERATE INTENTION ON PART OF CHINESE TO RELATE HIS ARRIVAL AT CANTON OR THE BORDER TO THE ELEVENTH HOUR ON CHUNG WAH, BUT IN TERMS
OF A PURELY FORTUITOUS CONCATENATION OF THESE TWO EVENTS WHICH, WHEN REALISED BY AUTHORITIES IN KWANGTUNG OR ON BORDER, MIGHT PROVE
RRESTIBLE TEMPTATION TO THEM TO DETAIN HOPSON IN ORDER TO PRESSURISE US INTO REVERSING OUR DECISION ON CHUNG WAH.
2. IN THE ENTIRELY NEW AND UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES THAT NOW
CONFRONT US, 1.E. WITH HOPSON IN PROCESS OF COMING OUT, WE MUST OBVIOUSLY AVOID ANYTHING WHICH COULD BRING ABOUT SITUATION IN
PARAGRAPH 1 ABOVE: AND IN THESE NEW CIRCUMSTANCES WE ARE SURE
THAT WE SHOULD NEED TO CONSULT MINISTERS ONCE MORE BEFORE
DEREGISTRATION WERE EFFECTED IF THIS WERE TO BE BEFORE HOPSON'S
ARRIVAL IN HONG KONG.
3.
MOST GRATEFUL THEREFORE IF YOU COULD TELEGRAPH FLASH
(A) WHAT IS LATEST POSSIBLE MOMENT AT WHICH DEREGISTRATION
ORDER COULD BE EXECUTED ON 14TH?
(B) WHETHER PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT COULD IF NECESSARY BE DEFERRED
UNTIL THE FOLLOWING DAY?
(C) WHETHER AS LAST RESORT, IF HOPSON DOES NOT ARRIVE ON 14TH, THERE IS ANY ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION OR STRATEGEM YOU COULD TAKE
TO HOLD THE POSITION: AND FOR HOW LONG?
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CONFIDENTIAL
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