TNAG-0052-FCO40-88-Communist-activities-in-schools-1968 — Page 40

reactivating the diplomatic offensive,-

attach a draft telegram.

Office concur.

Background and Argument

The Commonwealth

3. After very careful consideration it was

decided that the Chung Wah School should be

deregistered (C.0. telegram No. 1292 to Hong

Kong) but that the Chinese should be made aware

that any subsequent application for the

registration of a new school in the existing

premises under a new name, staff and management

Onsidered

would be on the same criteria as applications

Ang

to register other new schools. As expected,

Nintention

Λ

when the decision to deregister became public

there was a good deal of protest by local

communists in Hong Kong

Sir D. Hopson was

summoned to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign

Affairs on 3 August to receive an oral state-

ment "expressing the Chinese Government's

serious concern" about the deregistration of

the school (Peking telegram No. 712). He

reported that the interview was in a lower key

than might have been expected and that no

Flag B

Haker sylecrow in line munitum press.

Flag C

protest was made (Peking telegram No. 715) but hat Flag D

reference was made to the fact that

deregistration was not consistent with our

expressed desire to ease Sino-British relations

•

It therefore seems possible, though not certain

that the Chinese are delaying Sir D. Hopson's

visa because of the school and may as the

Governor says, be waiting to see whether we

proceed to the formal notification of

deregistration, biple deciding whethal to

Dilan visen fütmi

4. The reasons advanced by the Governor in

'favour of deregistration all still stand and I

/agree

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