TNAG-0216-FCO40-252-Detainees-and-prisoners-convicted-for-offences-during-the-di-1970 — Page 102

Sino/British Relations

Present Position

After the release of Mr. Grey and five other British subjects in October, and even after the subsequent arrest of and

the Chinese in contacts with us laid stress on the efforts they had made to improve relations and indicated that reciprocal measures were expected. Specific mention of confronta- tion prisoners in Hong Kong was not however made until 22 December when I pressed the Acting Director of the West European Department very hard for information about

and

Reference to prisoners was again made when Mr. T'ang protested to me on 5 January about the death of the Chairman of the Taikoo Dockworkers Trade Union, and asked that these prisoners should be released. The Chinese representations were in a low key and were clearly intended mainly to support representations by local communists in Hong Kong. I do not think the death will prove a decisive element in our relations, but the timing was unfortunate. It is clear however that the only measures which the Chinese have in mind are connected with confrontation prisoners. It is highly unlikely that they expect us to release a large number at once; what they are probably looking for is some movement which would enable them to justify to local communist sympathizers in Hong Kong further relaxations, including the release of detained British subjects. It is possible that some elements in the leadership, including Chou En-lai, are keener than others to see an end to confron- tation problems in the interests of better relations with us.

2. The Chinese may well have expected that after Mr. Grey's release there would be steady progress towards the release of confrontation prisoners or possibly a negotiated settlement of all outstanding problems. They were therefore prepared to release five other British subjects as an earnest of good will. They have probably now concluded that further progress is unlikely. They are no doubt also displeased because, except in the commercial field, we have made no particular effort to court them. On the contrary there have been very strong protests about

and

increased publicity about the treatment of British subjects now released, as well as those still detained; this Mission has continued the policy of resisting unreasonable Chinese demands in the administrative field, protesting about Chinese discourtesy and so on; and Reuters have decided to suspend their operations.

3. The Chinese have indicated their displeasure by a concentration of anti-British articles in the Chinese press following up the long article of 26 December on our economic difficulties (reported in my telegram No. 771 of 31 December 1969). In the period 9 - 26 January

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COMEID ETTAT