KIGHT HAVE BELA A KISUNDERSTANDING. TWO POINTS WERE NOT CLEAR TU
US:-
(1) WHAT THEMY LEANT BY A 'FORMAL' VISIT AND
(11) TO PREMISELY "HICH INDIVIDUALS THEY WISHED THE VISITS TU BÊ
PAID.
"E "ERS almAYS READY TU "PALY QUR HÜLES FÜR PRISON VISITS IN "
EASONABLE MAGNER. IF BY GULD SUPPLY US WITH THE NAKES uF THE
ADDITIONAL JOURNALISTS (PUP. OMTTED] "ESTIÓN, WE WOULD BE PREPARED TO
CONSIDER PERMITTING SINGLE VISĀTS TO EACH UP THEM
INDIVIDUALLY BY HIS EMPLOYER AND/OR A RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL ur THE
ORGANISATION EMPLOYING HIM, SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS; -
) THE PRISONER KUST BUT ÜBJECT.
+
(11)EACH VISIT MUST BE TU A PRISOMER INDIVIDUALLY.
CONFIDENTIAL
/(111)THE
·
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CONFIDENTIAL
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 212 TU COMKONWEALTH OFFICE
- 3 -
1) THE NUMBER OF VISITORS TO EACH PRISONER AT ANY ONE TIME MUST
REASONABLY RESTRICTED, I.E. TO TWO OR THREE VISITORS.
Y> THE TIMING MUST BE CONVENIENT TO THE PRISON AUTHORITIES.
(7) VISITS SHOULD NOT NORMALLY LAST MORE THAN 15 MINUTES EXCEPT WITH
JD REASON (THIS LIMIT IS APPLIED GENERALLY TO PRISON VISITS IN THE
TERESTS OF VISITORS SINCE INTERVEWING FACILITIES ARE NOT
IMITED AND LONGER VISITS WOULD OFTEN MEAN VISITORS WAITING LONGER?
VISITS ON THES BASIS (WHICH H.M CHARGE COULD MAKE OUT WERE RATHER
COTAL CONDITIONS IF THIS WOULD HELP) WOULD NOT BE AN EMBARRASSMENT.
Y WOULD ALLOW 'PATRIOTIC JOURNALISTS' TO BE VISITED BY THE
+
TORS OR MANAGERS OF THEIR PAPERS COR SOMEONE SIMILAR) BUT NOT BY
| N.C.N.A. PER SE. IF HOWEVER THE CHINESE MAINTAIN THAT 'FORMAL'
ING MORE.
ITS MEAN SOMETHING MORE, I SHOULD HAVE TO RECONSIDER WHEN THEIR
TRA REQUIREMENTS WERE KNOWN,
ON THE OTHER HAND IF, BEFORE MAKING AN APPROACH, H.M. CHARGE WOULD
ANY FURTHER CLARIFICATION, OR ANY MODIFICATIONS WITHIN THIS
MEWORK, I WOULD OF COURSE BE GLAD TO TRY TO MEET HIM.
OSSIBILITIES ARE :-
> TO HINT THAT AN N.C.N.A. OFFICIAL COULD ACCOMPANY THE EMPLOYER,
> TO ARRANGE THAT INTERVIEWS TAKE PLACE IN THE ROOM WHERE LAWYERS
PRISONER CLIENTS, WHICH IS SOMEWHAT MORE COMFORTABLE THAN THE
MAL ARRANGEMENTS AND MIGHT BE THOUGHT MORE 'FORMAL'.
| TOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT CLEAR HOWEVER THAT I WOULD PREFER NOT TO
PE THESE CONCESSIONS WHICH WOULD RATHER TOO GREATLY DISTINGUISH
L
SE PEOPLE FROM ORDINARY PRISONERS: AND I WOULD WISH TO CONSIDER
FORE FINALLY AGREEING.
THE OPPORTUNITY MIGHT ALSO BE TAKEN TO ENQUIRE FURTHER ABOUT THE
>POSED HSUEH PING/GREY EXCHANGE.
LEASE PASS IMMEDIATE PEKING. AS MYTEL 69.
2. D. TRENCH
[KEPETITION TO PERING,
KEFIRMED FUR DEPARTLANTAL DEVISION]
STRENTAL DISTRIBUTIN
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n.. DET. F.U. F.E.D.
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CONSULAR_DAFT.
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ADVANCE (UPIES SENT
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NENS DEPT.
D.S.A.U. PERSONNEL DEPT
CONFIDENTIAL
otha. espy on FDI/F
CYPHER CAT A
C
'MMEDIATE HONG KONG
LEGRAM NO 241
IDENTIAL.
i
TOP CU
COUP IDENTI AL
TO CALONE.LTH OFFICE
26 FCURUARY 1968
MYTEL
ADDRESSED SECRETARY OF STATE RFI PEKING MYTEL. NO. 76 DATE
153
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES N6,31
227FOR 368.
F41318
26TH FEBRUARY.
157
157
YOUR TELEGRAMS NOS. 323. 324, AND 325 PRISON VISITS.
+
1 AM NOT ANXIOUS TO PROLONG THE DISCUSSION, BUT YOU NO DOUBT
APPRECIATE THAT THESE TELEGRAMS SUGGEST SIX ADDITIONAL CONCESSIONS
WHICH, IN VARYING DEGREE, WILL DISTINGUISH THESE PRISONERS AND WHICH I
AM ACCORDINGLY CONCERNED ABOUT MAKING-
(1) THE INCLUSION OF N.C.N.A. IN THE VISITS AT ALL, WHICH
I HAVE HOWEVER ALREADY INDICATED I WOULD ACCEPT IF NECESSARY: (11) USE
OF THE SPECIAL ROOM, WHICH COULD WELL BE AWKWARD IF CONSIDERABLE NUMBERS
ARE INVOLVED WITHOUT ADEQUATE SPACING. HERE AGAIN, HOWEVER, I AM
PREPARED TO SO ARRANGE, ALTHOUGH
I SEE LITTLE REASON TO VOLUNTEER THE PROPOSAL:
CITED YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 323, PARAGRAPH 3. TO ALLOW VISITS
You Leter there main
BY HONA ALONE WOULD BE A FURTHER MOVE AWAY FROM OUR CURRENT
PRISON PRACTICE AND IN THE DIRECTION OF GRANTING NONA A SPECIAL
STATUS. I DO NOT MYSELF SEE WHY WE SHOULD THINK IT NECESSARY
TO CONCEDE THE POINT IN ADVANCE, LET ALONE TAKE THE INITIATIVE
1 TUTTING THE CONCESSION INTO THE MINDS OF THE CHINESE, SINCE
ARE PREPARED TO ALLOW A RESPONSIBLE OFFICER OF THE EMPLOYING
ORGANISATION TO BE SUBSTITUTED FOR THE EMPLOYER:
(IV) YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 323, PARAGRAPH 4. IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES
PERHAPS IT WOULD BE BETTER TO SAY NOTHING INITIALLY ABOUT TIME
LIMITS, AND LEAVE IT TO THE CHINESE TO RAISE THE POINT:
EVERTHELESS THIS IS UNLIKELY TO BE A PROBLEM UNLESS THE
¡UMBERS ARE LARGE AND CANNOT BE CONVENIENTLY SPACED,
file. I this
La
CONFIDENTIAL
/(V) YOUR
CONFIDENTIAL
HONG KONG TELUHLAN NO. 241 TO GODONWEALTI OFFICE
(V) YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 225, PARAGRAPH 4. OBVIOUSLY THE MORE
OFTEN 'SPECIAL VISITS' ARE REPEATED, THE MORE WE DISCRIMINATE
IN FAVOUR OF COMMUNIST PRISONERS, AND THE GREATER RISK OF
EMBARRASSMENT HERE. I WOULD NOT ENTIRELY EXCLUDE THE POSSIBILITY
OF LATER EXCHANGES OF VISITS IF THE FIRST SET WENT WELL AND WE
ACHIEVED THE QUID PRO QUO IN RESPECT OF GREY: BUT I WOULD
SUGGEST THAT WE ENTER INTO NO COMMITMENT ON THIS POINT IN
OUR FIRST APPROACH TO THE CHINESE:
(VI) YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 325, PARAGRAPH 5. I WOULD DO MY BEST
TO ARRANGE VISITS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, BUT THIS DEPENDS
ON NUMBERS AND WHETHER ANY ADVERSE INTEREST IN THESE VISITS
IS AROUSED PUBLICLY.
2 1 WOULD STILL PREFER NOT TO CONDUCT THESE NEGOTIATIONS THROUGH
NCNA IN HONG KONG SEMICOLON BUT IF WE DO SO 1 WOULD STRONGLY ADVISE
THAT IT BE DONE BY EXCHANGES OF MESSAGES CAT LEAST AT FIRST) BECAUSE
(A) IF WE DISCUSS POINTS OF SUBSTANCE CAS OPPOSED TO PURELY ADISIN-
ISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS) WITH NONA HERE WE ACCORD THEM IN EFFECT THE
QUASI-CONSULAR ROLE THAT CCF PARAGRAPH 2 OF YOUR TELEGRAM 323> WE
WISH TO AVOID CONCEDING.
(B) THEY ARE LIKELY TO BE MORE INTRANS IGENT ABOUT HONG KONG PROBLEMS.
THAN THE MEA AND OUR CONTACTS WITH THEK ON OTHER MATTERS HAVE BEEN
RESTRICTED TO EXCHANGES OF MESSAGES ON THE TELEPHONE. IT COULD BE
DIFFICULT AND TAKE TIME TO GET A TWO-WAY DISCUSSION ARRANGED. (THERE
"OULD EASILY BE LONG ARGUMENTS ABOUT VEETING PLACES).
(C) A DISCUSSION WITH NCNA COULD BE MORE EASILY REPRESENTED BY THEM
AS FORCING US INTO NEGOTIATION HERE. THIS IS NOT TO SAY HOWEVER THAT
IF PROPOSALS FOR A DISCUSSION AROSE NATURALLY AND WITHOUT RISK OF
EMBARRASSMENT WE COULD NOT CONSIDER IT.
3. YOUR TELEGRAM 324, PARAGRAPH 3.
I SEF CONSIDERAPLE RISKS IN GIVING THE INPRESSION THAT WE ARE
FIR PARKU TO ALLOU VISIT TO AN UNI, IMITED NUMBER ČAS PARAGRAPH TCA)
11
TELEGRAN A SU MG TO IMPLY) IF WE ARE TO ARGUE ABOUT THE MATTER
IN HONG KONG LATER. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT WE SHOULD NOT OFFER
CONCESSIONS ON HATTERS WHICH ARE OF SUBSTANCE TO US BEFORE THE
UNDPIEUPTAI,
/CHINESE
J
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P
41 W
י.
A DENT ~LONLEAL
-
3-
..FFICE
¡NESE HAVE PRESSED US TO DO 30, AND WITHOUT OUR HAVING ANY
...SURANCE THAT AS A RESULT WE SHALL GAIN ACCESS TO GREY.
L
!. YOUR TELEGRAM 324, PARAGRAPH 1CA).
I SUGGEST WE NEED TO STRIKE A CAREFUL BALANCE ON THE EXTENT TO WHICH
REPRESENT OUR TERMS AS SPECIAL CONCESSIONS. I CONCEDE WE CANNOT
PRESENT THEM AS BEING PERFECTLY NORMAL CESPECIALLY IN VIEW OF THE
A PITIONAL CONCESSIONS NOW PIOPOSED) AS THIS WOULD BE BOTH TOO
.:ANSPARENT AND UNLIKELY TO SATISFY THEN. BUT TO MAKE OUT THAT TILY
VIRE QUITE UNUSUAL CONCESSIONS WOULD BOTH HAND THEM A FROPAGANDA
ICTORY AND CUT THE GROUND CUT FROM UNDER MY FEET HERE, WHERE I
"UST DO MY BEST TO REPRESENT THEM AS NOT UNDULY ABNORMAL.
AS A CONCRETE PROPOSAL, I SUGGEST SUBSTITUTING FOR THE LAST
INTENCE OF PARAGRAPH 10A) AND FORSPARAGRAPH 1(8) OF YOUR TELEGRAM
24: IF THE NAMES OF THE JOURNALISTS AT PRESENT IN PRISON ARE
SUPLIED TO US, WE ARE PREPARED TO AGREE (PROVIDED THAT THE PRISONER
HOES NOT OBJECT) TO A SPECIAL VISIT TO EACH INDIVIDUALLY BY HIS
HILOYER AND ONE OTHER OFFICIAL OF THE NEWSPAPER EM LOYING HIM
CHICOLON OR ALTERNATIVELY ONE NONA REPRESENTATIVE, IF THIS IS
NEFERRED'.
H.M. CHARGE WOULD I HOPE STRESS THAT THOSE IN QUESTION MUST BE ONA FIDE
JOURNIZLIOTS, AND HE MIGHT THEN GO ON TO ENQUIRE THE
'MBERS LIKELY TO BE INVOLVED. HE COULD THEN SUGGEST THAT AFTER "NEEMENT
ON THE NURLERS IN PEKING THE HONA IN HONG KONG SHOULD NUNICATE TO THE
POLITICAL ADVISER THE NAMES OF THE PRISONERS ND THOSE PROPOSING TO VISIT
THEM, IN ORDER THAT APPROXIMATE TIMES OF VISITS AND OTHER DETAILS HIGHT
BE COMMUNICATED TO NUMA. 7. FINALLY, I CAN ONLY REPEAT HY WARNING THAT
ALL THESE CONCESSIONS
AND ARRANGEMENTS MAY RUN US INTO DANGEROUS REPURCUSSIONS HERE, BUT
I CANNOT OF COURSE SAY UNEQUIVOCALLY THAT THEY WILL DO 30.
0. PLEASE PASS PEging 76.
A D. M.
+
1
+ +4
120 1 Radio hAVAILED FOR DSVARTMEN PAL DECISION)
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CONFLEETI AL
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Опис. сору с
FDili
(297)
Pa
CONFIDENTIAL
CYPHER/CAT A
PRIORITY COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG
TELNO 324
23 FEBRUARY, 1968 (F & HKD)
RECEIV ARCHIV
2G FEB 1968
313/8
CONFIDENTIAL.
ADDRESSED TO HONGKONG TELEGRAM NO 324 OF 23/2 REPEATED FOR
INFORMATION TO PEKING.
MY IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING, TELEGRAM:
PRISON VISITS.
SUBJECT TO YOUR COMMENTS AND THOSE OF PEKING, I SUGGEST THE
FOLLOWING PLAN OF ACTION:
(A) SIR DONALD HOPSON SHOULD SAY TO THE CHINESE THAT WE HAVE REEN TRYING
TO SEE HOW SOME PROGRESS COULD BE MADE OVER THE QUESTION OF VISITS TO
IMPRISONED NC NA AND OTHER JOURNALISTS, ALL THESE PRISONERS HAVE OF
COURSE BEEN RECEIVING REGULAR VISITS PUT, AS A SPECIAL CONCESSION, WE
ARE NOW PREPARED TO MAKE ADDITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR SPECIAL VISITS TO
SUCH PRISONERS. THE DETAILS (INCLUDING THE NUMBERS OF JOURNALISTS
INVOLVED) COULD BE ARRANGED IN HONG KONG BETWEEN NCNA AND THE POLITICAL
ADVISER WHO HAS BEEN INSTRUCTED TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THEM.
(a)
IF ASKED, HOPSON SHOULD ALSO SAY THAT THE QUESTION OF VISITS BY NCNA TO
NON-N CN A JOURNALIST PRISONERS SHOULD NOT BE A MAJOR DIFFICULTY, ADDING
THAT. ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE FOR REPRESENTATIVES OF N CNA TO BE
INCLUDED IN VISITS BY THE
MPLOYERS OF SUCH PERSONS.
(C)
HOPSON SHOULD FOLLOW THIS UP BY SOME FORM OF WORDS INDICATING THAT WE
EXPECT TO HEAR FROM THE CHINESE SOON ABOUT ACCESS TO GREY. (WITHOUT
MAKING VISITS TO PRISONERS DIRECTLY CONDITIONAL UPON ACCESS TO GREY, WE
WISH TO LEAVE THE CHINESE IN NO DOUBT THAT WE SEE THE TWO AS CONNECTED.)
..
THE HANDLING OF THE APPROACH TO N C N A IN HONG KONG WOULD "EPEND ON
WHETHER IT IS POSSIBLE TO ENGAGE IN A TWO-WAY
CONFIDENTIAL
/DISCUSSION
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CONFIDENTIAL
COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TELEGRAM NO. 324 TO HONG KONG
2.
DISCUSSION OR WHETHER IT MUST BE ON THE BASIS OF SINGLE MESSAGES, IF (AS
WOULD SEEM DESIRABLE) THE FIRST IS POSSIBLE, THEN EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE
TO EMPHASISE THAT IT IS THE EMPLOYERS OF NON NC NA JOURNALISTS WHO ARE
BEING GRANTED ACCESS AND REPRESENTAT- IVES OF NCNA ARE BEING ALLOWED TO
GO ALONG AS AN ADDITIONAL CONCESSION AND NOT AS A RIGHT. IT WOULD ALSO
BE POSSIBLE TO WAIT FOR N C NA TO MAKE THE RUNNING ON WHETHER THEY WOULD
BE ALLOWED TO REPRESENT NON-AVAILABLE EMPLOYERS. IF, HOWEVER, IT IS ONLY
POSSIBLE TO PASS MESSAGES TO N C N A, THEN PRESUMABLY IT WILL BE
NECESSARY TO STATE FROM THE OUTSET THAT REPRESENTATIVES OF NCNA CAN BE
INCLUDED IN VISITS BY EMPLOYERS AND POSSIBLY ALSO THAT NCNA CAN
REPRESENT THE EMPLOYERS WHERE THE LATTER ARE UNAVAILABLE.
-
3. THE CHINESE MIGHT PRODUCE A LIST OF QUOTE PATRIOTIC JOURNAL ISTS
UNQUOTE WHICH INCLUDED LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE CLEARLY NOT
JOURNALISTS. IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, WE ACCEPT THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO
DELETE THESE FROM THE LIST AND TELL THE CHINESE THAT ACCESS WOULD BE
ALLOWED ONLY TO THE REMAINDER, BUT IF IT BECAM CLEAR THAT THE CHINESE
WERE PREPARED TO MAKE VISITS ONLY TO ALL DR NONE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
DEMONSTRATED THAT THEY WERE NOT SER- IOUSLY INTERESTED IN A REASONABLE
QUID PRO QUO FOR VISITS TO GREY.
GRATEFUL FOR URGENT COMMENTS.
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CONFIDENTIAL
i
CYPHER/CAT A
PRIORITY COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG
TELNO 323
23 FEBRUARY, 1968 (HWB AND F)
تا
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.3!
2 G FEB 1968
Fe13/8
CONFIDENTIAL.
ALDRESSED TO HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO 323 OF 23/2 REPEATED FOR INFORMATION
TO PEKING.
+
YOUR TELEGRAM NO 212 AND PEKING TELEGRAM NO 133:
145
PRISON VISITS.
I THINK THAT THESE HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS PROVIDE A POSSIBLE WAY FORWARD IN
TRYING TO SECURE ACCESS TO GREY AND THAT WE SHOULD MAKE FULL USE OF
THEM.
2.
Hi
I UNDERSTAND AND SHARE YOUR CONCERN LEST N CN A SHOULD ESTABLISH ITSELF
IN A QUASI-CONSULAR ROLE WITH A RIGHT OF ACCESS TO BROAD CATEGORIES OF
PRISCHERS OF CHINESE RACE, BUT I HOPE IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO PLAY OUR
HAND AND WORD OUR APPROACHES TO THE CHINESE IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE
CONCEDE THE MINIMUM ON THIS FRONT. THE SUGGESTION IN PARAGRAPH 3(C) OF
PEKING TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE SEEMS A GOOD WAY OF DOING THIS.
3.
IDEALLY, I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED TO GRANT ACCESS TO QUOTE PATRIOTIC
JOURNALISTS UNQUOTE, ONLY BY THEIR EMPLOYERS: BUT, AS PEKING HAVE
POINTED QUT, WE RISK DESTROYING THE WHOLE BARGAIN Br INSISTING ON THIS.
I AM GRATEFUL THEREFORE THAT YOU ARE PREPARED TO INCLUDE N CN A IN SUCH
VISITS IN SOME FORM, I THINK THAT WE MUST BE PREPARED TO COMMIT
OURSELVES TO THIS BY TELLING THE CHINESE THAT VISITS TO QUOTE PATRIOTIC
JOURNALISTS UNQUOTE WILL BE ALLOWED BY THEIR EMPLOYERS ACCOMPANIED BY A
REPRESENTATIVI OF NCNA AND, IN ADDITION, THAT VISITS BY N CNA ALONE WILL
BE ALLOWED IF THE EMPLOYER IS UNAVAILABLE (ALTHOUGH WE WOULD HOPE THAT
THIS LAST SITUATION WILL NOT ARISE).
4.
I AGREE WITH ALL THE CONDITIONS SUGGESTED IN THE LATTER PART OF
PARAGRAPH 5 OF YOUR TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE, ALTHOUGH I THINK IT WOULD
BE WISER NOT TO INSIST ON A TIME LIMIT SO SHORT 43 15
1
CONFIDENTIAL
/MINUTES
1
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CONFIDENTIAL
C.O. TELEGRAM NO. 323 TO HONG KONG
2.
· 4 |
JUALS PER VISIT SINOD WE WOULD NOT WISH THE CHINESE TO
INSIST THAT VISITS TA SEM SHOULD BE LIMITED TO SUCH A SHORT PERTH,
KNIGHT RA TASIER TO DEAL WITH THIS IF VISITS ARE MADE IN A SPECIAL ROOM
AS SUGGESTED IN PARAGRAPH 7(8) OF YOUR TELEGRAM.
C. I DO NOT THINK THAT THERE IS MUCH TO BE GAINED BY ASHIRE-
WE CHINESE TO DEFINE THEIR MEANING OF QUOTE FORMAL UNQUOTE VISITAS
THE CONTRARY IT MIGHT ENCOURAGE THEM TO INCREASE THEIR DEM? NUS.,
WE CAN ACHIEVE ACCESS TO GREY BY MEANS OF VISITS OF ANY SURT, SO MUCH
THE BETTER, AND IT DOES NOT MUCH MATTER WHAT THE CHINLSE CALL THEM. I
SUGGEST THAT WE OURSELVES SHOULD USE THE WORDS
...
TIL SPECIAL VISITS UNQUOTE TO EMPHASISE THEIR EXCEPTIONAL
NATURE AND MINIMISE THE RIGHT OF THOSE CONCERNED TO MAKE THEM.
WE
Sin
IT IS RECOGNISED HERE THAT IF THIS FAILS IT IS AS FAR A
SHOULD GO IN MAKING CONCESSIONS IN HONG KONG TO GAIN ACCESS 10 GO
FURTHER MIGHT PUT AT RISK OUR POSITION IN HONG KONG: Wł WOULD BE
ABANDONING A POLICY OF FIRMNESS IN OUR DEALINGS THAT HAS PROGHT US
THROUGH THE RECENT TROUBLES AND WOULD ENCOURAGI. CHINESE HOPES THAT WE
CAN STILL BE PUSHED INTO MAKING SUBSTANCJAI CONCESSIONS THEPF.
+
DETAILED SUGGESTIONS ON HOW THIS EXERCISE SHOULD BE HANDED TH THE
CHINESE ARE CONTAINED IN MY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING TET EGRAN,
1
4
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CONFIDENTIAL
Sfs have
LAR
22 FEB 1968
F213/8
PRISON VISITS IN HONG KONG
+
150
Ihr Thurray // 22
ора
-
+
The Secretary of State has drawn attention to Sir Donald
Flag A14 Hopson's telegram No. 133 about prison visits in Hong Kong,
in the context of visits to Mr. Grey in Peking. I attach a
Flag B
copy of a minute prepared for Mr. Rodgers, explaining the
point at issue between Sir D. Hopson and the Hong Kong
Government.
2. I recommend that when the Secretary of State sees the deputation from
the Council of the National Union of Journalists
later today, he does not refer to these discussions with the
Chinese about visita.
The Hong Kong Department of the
But the
a
Commonwealth Office and ourselves are about to submit a
recommendation that action should now be taken in Peking and
Hong Kong along the lines of Sir D. Hopson's advice. price we are being
asked to pay for visits to Mr. Grey significant step towards
quasi-consular status for the New China News Agency in respect of
persons who may in some cases be Hong Kong, as distinct from Chinese,
citizens is high and the decision not easy. What we (and the National
Union of
Journalists) want is not so much visits to Mr. Grey as his
release.
3. A different point. Mr. Rodgers has suggested that in
the Secretary of State's brief for the meeting an addition
be made to the first talking point on the following lines:
/At
CONFIDENTIAL
H
CONFIDENTIAL
2 -
At Christmas, however, he sent telegrams to his
mother, a friend and Reuters. The friend received a
further telegram about a fortnight ago in which he said
that he was receiving her letters and telegrams.
Junes Unnay.
(James Murray)
21 February, 1968
14
Copies to:
Mr. Wilkinson
Mr. Samuel
CONFIDENTIAL
+
Flag A
Flag 1
Flag O
CONFIDENTIAL
Copy also a FD 13/882
PRISON VISITS IN HONG KONG
fa. Sie (150
·
RECEIVED IN {ARCHIVES No 3!
22 FEB 1968
FC13/3
The Chinese have been using our wish to have consular
access to Mr. Gray in Peking se a means of obtaining wide
rights for New China News Agency (and other communist
organisations) to make special prison visits, not merely to
members of N.C.N.A. but also to other coraunist journalists
and members of other communist organisations. Prisoners are
already visited once a month by relatives and friends. The
special visits would simply be made into propaganda demon-
strations. Hong Kong telegram no. 1908 of 23 December
described the relevant prison rule as follows:
"No persons other than relations and friends shall
be allowed to visit prisoners except by special authority;
visits may be made once a month, but extra visita can be
approved. Although there is no rule to this affect,
there is a standing order that requests for an extra
visit must originate with the prisoner."
2. On 31 December Sir D. Hopson informed the Chinese
accordingly. Presmably because their objective is to
establish a quasi-consular status for N.C.M.A., the Chinese
Government said that they could not agree that the prisoners must
themselves make requests for visita (Peking telegram No. 1). //However,
Hong Kong telegram No. 212 of 19 February put the
position differäntly:
"Extra visits to individual prisoners can be approved
for reasonable cause at the prisoner's request. Again,
CONFIDENTIA
/anybody
CONFIDENTIAL
Flag D
3.
anybody wanting to see a prisoner for any special
ressons is of course free to ask to visit him;
if
the reasons are compelling, the visit can be allowed
again subject to the prisoner's agreement. A
particularly relevant exemple is that an employer is
usually granted one visit to an employee."
The burden of Sir D. Hopson's complaint in paragraph 2
of Paking telegram No. 133 is that the Hong Kong authorities
should have indicated from the outset that if the employers
of the Communist journalists were to request a meeting, they
would usually be granted one visit.
4. That some at any rate of the employers are themselves
in prison may help to explain why the Hong Kong authorities
failed to bring to motios the possibility of employer/visits
in the oase of communist journalista.
5. If there has been any failure of co-ordination in this
case it has probably been between the Colonial Secretariat
of the Hong Kong Government and the Frison Services. The
latter are no doubt in normal onses a law unto themselves,
and failed in this particular instanos to appreciate the
political importance of all the issues involved. (In normal
sireumstances, the distinction between a visit for which a
prisoner asks, and a visit requested by a friend and to which
the prisoner agrees, cannot be very rigidį presumably very
informal action by the prison authorities could transform the second
category into the first.)
CONFIDENTIAL
(James Murray) 21 February, 1968
Coprei grei to Is Densore
❘ RECEIVED IN A
ARCHIVES N. 5!
NË 22 FEB 1963
Fe13/8
Mr Casted copy: IAITIAŬ
14+8) ZIJ
ора
o kept in dept Copy ALSO ON FD13/8/1
Chronoles of
nts concernier NUA Prisoners
respondent
Hong Kong end Baxteri
Mast Mont
227
10. 7.67
Mokinu
11. 7.67
12. 7.67
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