TNAG-0052-FCO40-88-Communist-activities-in-schools-1968 — Page 84

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Cypher/Cat. A.

PRIORITY PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno. 648

8 July, 1968

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Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 648 of 8 July, Repeated for information to Hong Kong.

126

Hong Kong telegram No. 855: Policy in Hong Kong.

I am grateful for this clarification.

I am, however, sorry

to see no reference in this telegram to the ending of the confrontation or the measures which might lead to this or at least explore its possibility. In view of this and the clear statements 2 in Hong Kong telegram No. 832, I should like to repeat my request

for clarification from you on Her Majesty's Government's policy: In particular are we seeking to get Sino-British relations back to normal understanding this to be the situation obtaining in April 1967 ? Do we wish to end confrontation ? Are we prepared to consider the possibility of measures in Hong Kong which could lead to this improvement ?

2. I am also grateful for the Governor's expression of concern for the fate of this Mission. While this is naturally much in my mind, I do not wish it to be thought that we here argue only for our own skins. In fact I find our personal involvement # rather inhibiting factor. The situation of other British subjects here, not only the appalling case of Grey and those held on espionage charges, but also the [?grp. omitted led to expose the British community in Shanghai, gives us in this hission much more concern. Take also the less tangible but very important wider aspects of our relations with China, not only political but also commercial. Our export trade has suffered and is bound to continue to suffer while present circumstances persist. To represent the equation solely in terms of this Mission balanced against Hong Kong may be misleading.

Foreign Office pass Priority Hong Kong.

Sir D. Hopson

[Repeated as requested]

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION.

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