(0)
CONFIDENTIAL
OP COPY
Cypher/Cat A
PRIORITY PEKING
ΤΟ
FOREIGN OFFICE
Telno 715
5 August 1968
H W
CONFIDENTIAL
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 715 of
5 August, repeated for information to Hong Kong.
29
My telegram No. 712: Chung Wah School.
Though the Chinese warning is as usual obscurely phrased and we are called on to meet the demands of Chung Wah students and teachers, I incline to regard the interview as
(a) an obligatory act of support for their Hong Kong
followers and
(b) an expression of concern and warning about what the Chinese see as our present course of policy rather than an ultimatum on Chung Wah itself.
The interview was in a lower key than might have been expected. There was no protest and there is to be no publicity about this interview, at least for the time being. We may, of course, have further trouble when dead-line for deregistration arrives.
2.
I was at pains to point out that the opportunity had been given for a new and peacefully conducted school to operate on premises. Hseuh did not specifically reject the idea of a compromise and penultimate paragraph of statement by Kwang Tung support Committee (my telegram No. 717, paragraph 5) suggests that the Chinese may in fact prefer to avoid a confrontation on this issue.
3.
!
Hsuch made several references to our expressed wishes to reduce tension in Hong Kong, quoting in particular Lo Kuei-po's remark that if, as we claim, we wish to normalize relations we must show this by our acus. He added that the Chinese Government
watched what we did rather than what we said.
Foreign Office pass Priority Hong Kong.
Sir D. Hopson
[Repeated as requested]
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
C.O.
H.K.Dept.
F.0.
F.E.D.
S.E.A.D.
F.O.
Defence De
PAUT
PRECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 63
5 AUG 1968
P.U.S.D.
REF.
News Dept
39
NEXT
C.O.
F.E. & PLD.
HWA 1/12
News Dept.
O.P.A.
I.R.D.
NNNNN
DIS MOD
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.