LAST
REF.
EN CLAIR
IMMEDIATE
TEL. NO. 399
UNCLASSIFIED
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ΤΟ PEKING
12 NOVEMBER, 1969 (FED)
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELNO 399 OF 12/11
287
REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG POLAD SINGAPORE WASHINGTON
CALL OF CHINESE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES.
MR. FOLEY SUMMONED THE CHINESE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES, MA,
ON
11 NOVEMBER TO DISCUSS THE CASES OF BRITISH SUBJECTS DETAINED BY THE CHINESE. THE MEETING LASTED ABOUT HALF-AN-HOUR.
2. MR. FOLEY BEGAN BY EMPHASISING OUR DESIRE TO HAVE NORMAL RELATIONS WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. HE EXPRESSED SATISFACTION AT THE RELEASE OF ANTHONY GREY AND THE FIVE OTHER BRITISH SUBJECTS, BUT STRESSED HIS DISAPPOINTMENT AND GRAVE CONCERN AT THE RECENT ARREST OF
DRAWING
PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THEIR AGE AND MCBAIN'S RECORD OF ILL-HEALTH, HE REFERRED TO RECENT EXCHANGES IN LONDON AND PEKING ABOUT THEIR CASES AND THE FAILURE OF THE CHINESE TO PRODUCE ANY INFORMATION, MA REPLIED THAT HE HAD NO INFORMATION ON THE CASES. MR. FOLEY ASKED THE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES TO CONVEY URGENTLY TO HIS GOVERNMENT A REQUEST FOR EARLY INFORMATION AND ACCESS, HE EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT THAT THE ARRESTS SHOULD HAVE OCCURRED WHEN RELATIONS SEEMED TO BE IMPROVING, IN RESPONSE MA POINTED OUT THAT THERE STILL EXISTED SOME OBSTACLES BUT THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, FOR ITS PART, HAD MADE QUITE A LOT OF EFFORT AND IT WAS NOW UP TO THE UNITED KINGDOM TO MAKE AN EFFORT. MR. FOLEY RIPOSTED THAT TO ARREST TWO OLD PEOPLE WHOSE HEALTH WAS SUSPECT WAS HARDLY A DEMONSTRATION BY THE CHINESE OF A DESIRE FOR BETTER RELATIONS.
3. MR. FOLEY THEN TURNED TO THE CASES OF
EMPHASISING THE LUNG DURATION OF THEIR INVESTIGATION, THE REFUSAL OF ACCESS AND LACK OF INFORMATION. MA REPLIED THAT HE HAD NO INFORMATION ON THESE CASES, BUT THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT'S POSITION WAS CLEAR. THE PERSONS IN QUESTION HAD BROKEN THE LAW AND THEIR CASES WERE UNDER EXAMINATION. HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAD THE RIGHT TO DETERMINE THE PERIOD OF INVESTIGATION AND WHETHER ACCESS SHOULD BE GRANTED. HE REMARKED THAT THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES PROTECTED FOREIGNERS WHO OBSERVED THE LAW BUT PUNISHED THOSE WHO BROKE IT. THEY HAD THE RIGHT TO DEAL WITH CASES AS THEY THOUGHT FIT, FOR EXAMPLE WATT HAD BEEN TRIED AND SENTENCED, POPE AND JONES HAD BEEN EXPELLED AND OTHERS WHO HAD ADMITTED THEIR GUILT HAD BEEN RELEASED.
4. MR. FOLEY THEN REFERRED TO THE CASE OF
HE EXPLAINED THAT
HAD ASKED WHETHER HER HUSBAND COULD EXPECT TO EARN REMISSION OF HIS SENTENCE. HE POINTED OUT THAT
HAD NOW SERVED TWO OF HIS THREE YEAR SENTENCE AND THAT IT WAS NORMAL BRITISH PRACTICE TO REMIT ONE-THIRD OF A SENTENCE FOR GOOD CONDUCT. HE ASKED MA WHAT CHINESE PRACTICE WAS IN THIS RESPECT. MA REPLIED HE HAD NO INFORMATION ON THIS POINT, BUT EMPHASISED THE SERIOUSNESS OF
OFFENCES WHICH HE ALLEGED HAD JEOPARDISED CHINESE NATIONAL SECURITY AND SABOTAGED SOCIALIST CONSTRUCTION, 288 5. FINALLY, MR. FOLEY RAISED THE CASES OF
NEXT
REQUESTING INFORMATION.
MA HAL NONE.
IN CONCLUSION MR. FOLEY SAID HE WANTED MA TO KNOW THAT HE COULD HAVE ACCESS AT ANY TIME TO THE FCO, AND HOPED FOR FRUITFUL COLLABORATION IN FUTURE. HE WAS GLAD TO LEARN THAT MEMBERS OF THE CHINESE MISSION HAD ATTENDED THE LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE AND THE TRADES UNION CONFERENCE, AND URGED THAT MEMBERS OF THE MISSION SHOULD HAVE MORE CONTACT WITH THE BRITISH PUBLIC, HE WARNED HOWEVER THAT THE HARSH ATTITUDES REFLECTED IN THE CHINESE
/GOVERNMENT'S
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