SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret
Secret
Confidential
DSR 11C (Revised 5/87)
suppression are not the basis for stable government.
I
hope that even now more sensible counsel will prevail in
Peking and that the Chinese authorities will renounce the
use of violence. I made these views clear to the Chinese
Charge when I summoned him yesterday.
Restricted
Unclassified
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
Our Ambassador in Peking and his staff have been
working round the clock to satisfy themselves about the
safety of British citizens and Hong Kong British
nationals in Peking and, as far as possible, in other
parts of China. No reports have been received of loss of
life or serious injury. It is however regrettable that
some British journalists have been badly beaten by the
Chinese military. I told the Chinese Charge on 5 June
that we looked to the Chinese authorities to take all
necessary measures to ensure
to ensure the safety of all British
citizens in China.
In present circumstances, there can be no question of
continuing normal business with the Chinese Government.
The Government have therefore decided to take the
following steps:
a) All Ministerial exchanges between Britain and China
scheduled to take place in the near future have been
suspended. This means that the visit of the Chinese
Minister of Justice, who was due to arrive here on
has been
Wednesday 7 June, should be cancelled.
My Right
Honourable Friend, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries
and Food, has also cancelled his forthcoming visit to
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.