TNAG-0053-FCO40-89-Communist-activities-in-schools-1968 — Page 13

CONFIDENTIAL

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6.

done on the grounds that the time had now passed when

the need for almost any kind of school was so urgent

that great latitude was acceptable.

All the above measures, if on examination they proved

practicable and desirable, would be applied to schools

generally and without discrimination against Communist schools.

They would, however, tend to hit Communist schools harder

than others. Apart from the above action, the only other

steps that can be taken against any particular school must be

based on the individual circumstances of each case.

Views of the Chargé d'Affaires in Peking

7. These views were set up at length in Peking telegram

No. 813 and were the subject of my submission of 6 September.

There is no doubt that any general offensive against Communist

education in Hong Kong would have very serious effects on Sino-

British relations and would be considered to be in contradiction

to the assurances in Her Majesty's Government's statement of

13 April that we did not object to the study of Mao and to

Communist education as such. The dangers have been reiterated

in a letter of 10 September from Mr. Cradock to myself and

have been emphasised orally by sir D. Hopson since his return.

Argument

8. With the grant of all outstanding exit visas to members

of the Mission in Feking a degree of normality in Sino-British

relations has been restored. The position on British subjects

is less satisfactory in that Er. Johnston of the Chartered Bank

in Shanghai has been arrested. On the credit side, however,

CONFIDENTIAL

/ Mr. and Mrs. Self