TNAG-0052-FCO40-88-Communist-activities-in-schools-1968 — Page 51

CONFIDENTIAL

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COM

Cypher/Cat A

PRIORITY PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno 712 3 August, 1968

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES N. 63

-5 AUGI9

HWD 9/12

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 712 of

3 August

Repeated for information to: Hong Kong.

38

Hong Kong telegran No. 941: Chung Wah School.

I was summoned to see Mr. Hsueh, Deputy Director of Western European Department, this afternoon when he made an oral statement expressing the Chinese Government's serious concern about deregistration of the Chung Wah school which he described as fresh persecution of Chinese Patriotic Schools in Hong Kong and a new provocation against the Chinese people.

2. He recapitulated the Chinese version in terms of the People's Daily article of 24 July (my telegrams Nos. 676 and 679). Following Chinese protest of 6 December, instead of complying the British side had gone from bad to worse and was now preparing to cancel regristration of the school. The British Government had several times expressed desire to ease Sino - British relations and settle outstanding problems but present grave step raised doubts about our sincerity and showed we were precipitating new tensions.

t

3. He was therefore instructed sternly to warn British Government to meet immediately the 22 July demands of

If the British teachers and students of Chung Wah. Government persisted in its reckless course they would be fully responsible for the consequences.

4.

I explained to Mr.Hsueh why the school had had to be deregistered and that this was absolutely reasonable action on the part of any Government which wished to maintain an orderly educational system. On the other hand, the Hong Kong Government had made a definite gesture to those wishing to maintain a school on the premises by announcing that an application for a school there under a new name and new staff would be considered according to normal procedure. In answer to Mr.Hsueh's question whether we wished to ease or create tension

I said we wished to ease tension by ending violence while giving the opportunity for peaceful education.

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