CONFIDENTIAL
CYPHER CAT A
IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 297
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
12 APRIL 1969
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CONFIDENTIAL
PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY.
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MY TELEGRAM 252 GRANADA T.V. FILM.
FILM HAS NOW BEEN SHEWN PUBLICLY HERE OF R.T.V. SHEWING WAS
PRECEDED BY A DISCLAIMER BY R.T.V. (INTRODUCED ON THEIR OWN
INITIATIVE) THAT THEY IN ANY WAY SUPPORTED THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN
THE FILM AND WAS FOLLOWED BY A BRIEF DISCUSSION OF THE FILM ON WHICH
COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, DEFENCE SECRETARY AND THE VICE-CHANCELLOR OF
THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY APPEARED AND MADE A FEW POINTS TO INDICATE
THE TENDENTIOUS NATURE OF THE COMMENTARY.
2. THE REACTION HERE HAS NOT BEEN TOO DAMAGING, PARTICULARLY AS THE
FILM WAS NOT SHEWN ON THE CHINESE CHANNEL AND IN VIEW OF THE FILM'S
VERY OBVIOUS BIAS. HOWEVER IT HAS CAUSED CONSIDERABLE DISTRESS TO
THE POLICE AND OF COURSE HAS FURNISHED MATERIAL FOR CHINESE
COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA. THE RESULTS OF THE FILM'S SHEWING IN THE
U.K. HAVE HOWEVER BEEN DAMAGING. APPLICATIONS FOR ENTRY INTO THE
POLICE FORCE HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN, MEMBERS OF THE FORCE HERE HAVE
RECEIVED LETTERS FROM THEIR FAMILIES URGING THEM TO RESIGN, AND
CHINESE MEMBERS OF THE FORCE ON COURSES IN BRITAIN HAVE BEEN
SERIOUSLY EMBARRASSED.
3. CONSIDER THEREFORE THAT SOME ACTION IS REQUIRED IN BRITAIN TO
TRY TO COUNTER THE EFFECTS THERE. I PROPOSE IN THE FIRST PLACE TO
WRITE A LETTER TO LORD AYLESTONE, ATTACHING A DETAILED REBUTTAL OF
THE POINTS MADE IN THE FILM, AND PROTESTING AGAINST IT (I WILL
OF COURSE COPY THIS TO YOU). THIS HOWEVER WILL NOT HAVE ANY PUBLIC
EFFECT ALTHOUGH I HOPE IT MIGHT HELP TO RESTRAIN GRANADA IN FUTURE.
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/A BRIEF
CONFIDENTIAL
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