alive to the need for certain reforms in the
sphere of labour conditions and relations.
12.
A.
Why does H.N.G. perit United States warships to use
Hong Kong as a base for their attacks on North Vietnam?
Ever since the last vorld war the warships of a member of
countries, including those of the United States, have been
in the habit of visiting Hong Kong for rest and recreation,
No warlike facilities of any description are provided
de not conside that
sasen-now-why they-
during these visits and H.M.G. s98-20
should be discontinued.-
Hong Kong is in carry way
Над
being used by the thrited statis as a
base
for attacks on
North Vietnam.
En Clair
PEKING
Telno 234
UNCLASSIFIED
CONFIDENTIAL
FOREIGN OFFICE
TO
25 March 1968
TOP. E
RESIVED IN ARCHIVES/N,.31
20 MX d
FD
320
Addressed to Hong Kong telegram No. 164 of 25 March, Repeated for
information to Foreign Office.
F23/3278)
Foreign Office telegram No. 283 to me. [Prison Visits]
Paragraph 2. Do you agree?
Sir D. Hopson
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.0.
F.E.D.
Consular Dept. P.C.D.
D.D. & P.U.S.D.
News Dept.
J.I.R.D. O.L.A.
0.0. H.K.Dept.
News Dept. DIS MOD
NNNNN
CONFIDENTIAL
Mr. Wilkinson
PROBLEM
CONFIDENTIAL
+
RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES No.31
26 MAR 1968
FD1/1
DEPORTATION OF FILM STARS FROM HONG KONG
327
The two film stars whom the Government of Hong Kong tried
to deport to China as a test case returned to Hong Kong on
15 March having spent 31 hours on the border bridge. The
Chinese made a serious protest to the Chargé d'Affaires in
Peking on the same day against the attempted deportation and
demanded that the two persons should be declared innocent and Flag
A318/set free (Peking telegram No. 207). Sir D. Hopson, in rejecting
the protest, pointed out that the Hong Kong Government saw their
action as a means of making progress and relieving tension and
not raising it as the Chinese had done by exploiting the
incident. The Governor of Hong Kong has proposed (Hong Kong Flag B(322
telegram No. 344) that we should pursue this line with the
Flag
Chinese through various channels simultaneously in order to
emphasise that we consider such deportations as a useful way of solving
our mutual problems. Sir D. Hopson has advised 321) (Peking telegram No.
223) that initially at any rate we should
pursue this through one informal channel only.
RECOMMENDATION
2. I recommend that we should pursue the Governor's proposal
in the manner favoured by Sir D. Hopeon. We should not, however, include
in our approach any reference to the talka
now going on in Hong Kong with the New China News Agency
/(N.C.M.A.)
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CONFIDENTIAL
- 2
(N.C.N.A.) about prison visits. I attach a draft telegram
in which the Commonwealth Office concur.
BACKGROUND
3.
The Chinese first raised the question of the film stars
in a conversation with Sir D. Hopson on 31 December in
referring to a report that they were to be deported to Taiwan.
The film stars are under detention in Hong Kong in connection
with the recent troubles in the Colony. In January Sir D.
Hopson advocated a major act of clemency in Hong Kong including
the release of left-wing prisoners as a means of improving
Sino/British relations and easing the position of Mr. Grey and
the Kission. The Governor of Hong Kong saw grave dangers in
releasing prisoners in the Colony, but was prepared to agree
to release prisoners on deportation to China in fairly large
numbers if this was thought to be helpful. The two film stars
were considered good candidates and it was therefore agreed
that they should be used as a test case. If the Chinese
accepted them this might open the way to an eventual exchange
of Mr. Grey for N.C.N.A. representatives.
It was agreed that the film stars should be taken to the
border and left on the bridge so that they could cross to
China if they so wished and if the Chinese would accept them.
Although they had shown no unwillingness to return to China,
they had earlier refused to give any written or oral agreement
to deportation. A few days before the operation the Hong Kong
authorities notified their intentions to the China Merchants
Steam Navigation Company, the a communist-controlled organisation
/dealing
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
- 3-
dealing with travel to China. The film stars were taken to
the border on 14 March but after considerable discussion with
Chinese officials they eventually returned (to detention in Flag D(326)
Hong Kong) the next day. (Hong Kong telegram No. 338). On
15 March the Chargé d'Affaires was summoned to the Ministry
Flag A(318) of Foreign Affairs in Peking (Peking telegram No. 207) to
receive a "gerious protest" from the Chinese Government about
our attempt forcibly to deport the film stars and a demand
that they be declared innocent and set free and that in future
they should not be sent anywhere outside Hong Kong against
their will. In replying, Sir D. Hopson reminded the Chinese
that it was they who had first raised the question of the film
stars and that in seeking to deport them the Hong Kong Govern-
ment were trying to relieve tension. The Chinese on the other
hand were making propaganda capital out of the incident and
rendering the solution of our mutual problems more difficult. Flag
B(322)The Governor in Hong Kong telegram No. 344 states that he
thinks the best way of following up the incident and trying to
turn it to our advantage would be to pursue very much the same
line taken by Sir D. Hopson, more in sorrow than in anger.
The detailed line he proposes is given in paragraph 4 of this
telegram.
5. The Governor suggests that the Chinese should be approached
simultaneously in Peking and London and in Hong Kong through
the Chine Merchants Steam Navigation Company and through a
delicate Bank of China channel referred to in Hong Kong Top Secret
telegram No. 331 (withdrawn from circulation and not
therefore attached). He doubts whether we should use the
/talke
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
-4
Flag C (32/
talks between the Political Adviser and N.C.N.A. about prison
visits for this purpose. He also suggests that these approaches
be coupled with harder publicity about the position of our
Mission and Mr. Grey.
Sir D. Hopson agrees (Peking telegram No. 223) that we
should follow up the incident along the lines proposed by the
Governor, but in view of the attitude of the Chinese as
evidenced in their protest of 8 March he considers that our
approach should be confined in the first instance to the Bank
of China channel, He is doubtful about the wisdom of any
publicity at this stage.
ARGUMENT
7.
Deportation of left-wing prisoners to China, if successful,
might be an important way of meeting Chinese grievances in
Hong Kong and at the same time securing the release of Mr. Grey.
We should certainly not lose the opportunity to emphasise to
the Chinese that this was a serious attempt to make progress.
But we share Sir D. Hopson's doubts about taking simultaneous
action on a number of fronts. If we pursue the matter through
formal channels (i.e. in Peking and London) we can expect the
Chinese to take up the hard propaganda line shown in our most
recent formal exchanges with them. By handling the matter
informally through the Bank of China channel we make it possible
for the Chinese to consider the proposition without striking an
attitude. Moreover it would involve no commitment by either
side at the initial stage. The China Merchants Steam Navigation
Company is a less informal channel than the one proposed and
in any event proved unsatisfactory on a previous occasion.
CONFIDENTIAL
/8.
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- 5-
8. We agree with the Governor that it would not be wise to
bring this question into the current talks with the N.C.N.A.
in Hong Kong about visits to communist prisoners. I therefore
think that the reference to those talks in the proposed
Flag B322) approach to the Chinese (paragraph 4 of Hong Kong telegram
No. 344) should be omitted.
9. The proposal for harder publicity will have to await a
decision on the reply to be given to the Chinese Vice Minister's
statement to Sir D. Hopson of 8 March on Sino/British relations
as a whole.
James Manag
(James Murray)
22 March, 1968
Copies to:
Sir D. Allen
Mr. Sanual
Mr. Carter, C.0.
I
despatched the telegrams;
will wish to be
Alsam
of the background.
Thank you
you.
Cam.
but you
مگر
22 Maul
/ биений
I must the
CONFIDENTIAL
2573 Emas
1
Cypher/Cat A
CONFIDENTIAL
IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
Telegram No. 338
CONFIDENTIAL
16 March, 1968
PECEIVED IN
*ས་་
西山
Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No. 33 of 16 March,
Repeated for information to Peking.
My telegram No. 323: Film Stare.
The two film stars left the bridge at Lowu yesterday at 3.05 p.m. having
waited some 31 hours, They returned of their own free will and boarded a
Kowloon train at Lowu accompanied by China Travel Service
representatives.
They were removed from the train at Sheung Shui and placed in custody.
They did not resist arrest and seemed quite happy to be back. In fact
the girl had even taken the opportunity while on the train to move all
the Mao badges which had been presented to her by the Chinese border
guards.
2. As they left the bridge the following broadcast was
made from China :-
"These two people have done nothing wrong and it is absolutely
unreasonable of the British authorities to attempt to expel them to
China. They now wish to return to their own residence and the British
authorities will be fully responsi- ble for all the serious consequences
if anything is done to present them"
Foreign office pass Immediate Peking No. 113.
8ir D. Trench
[Repeated as requested]
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
C.O. H.K.D.
News Dept
I. & G.D.
F.O. P.E.D.
J.I.R.D.
J.I.P.G.D.
O.L.A. O.P.A. News Dept
DIS M.O.D.
*****
CONFIDENTIAL
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
I
·
J.
CYPHER/CAT A
325
CONFIDENTIAL
MONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG
TELNO 531
CONFIDENTIAL.
22 MARCH 1968 (HKD)
FDY
ADDRESSED TO HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 531 OF 22 MARCH REPEATED FOR
INFORMATION TO PEKING,
EKINGY (222)
YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 3441 FILM STARS.
WE AGREE WITH THE LINE PROPOSED IN YOUR PARAGRAPH 4. WE CONSIDER,
HOWEVER, THAT THE REFERENCE TO NONA SHOULD BE OMITTED IN ORDER THAT THIS
EXERCISE MAY BE KEPT SEPARATE FROM THE QUESTION OF PRISON VISITS WE
ENTIRELY AGREE IT SHOULD BE KEPT OUT OF THE POLITICAL ADVISERS 32) TALKS
ON THAT SUBJECT.
2. HOPSON'S ARGUEMENTS IN PARAGRAPH 1 OF PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 223
AGAINST PURSUING THIS THROUGH FORMAL CHANNELS SEEM TO US CONVINCING. Nữ
BY HANDLING IT INFORMALLY THROUGH THE CHANNEL REFERRED TO IN YOUR
TELEGRAM NUMBER 331 WE MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE CHINESE TO CONSIDER THE
PROPOSITION WITHOUT STRIKING AN ATTITUDE: AND IT WOULD INVOLVE NO
COMMITMENT FOR EITHER SIDE AT THE INITIAL STAGE. WE DOUBT THE VALUE OF
USING THE CHINA MERCHANTS STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY FOR THE REASONS GIVEN
IN PARAGRAPH 3(C) OF YOUR TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE. WE CONSIDER
THEREFORE THAT INITIALLY WE SHOULD USE ONLY THE CHANNEL REFERRED TO IN
YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 331.
3. WE ARE STILL EXAMINING THE QUESTION OF A REPLY TO THE CHINESE VICE
MINISTER'S STATEMENT OF 8 MARCH ON SINO/BRITISH RELATIONS. WHETHER
PUBLICITY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE TROUBLES OF THE MISSION AND MR GREY
WILL BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN THIS CONTEXT. IN THE MEANTIME THERE WOULD
BE EVERY ADVANTAGE IN YOUR GOING AHEAD AS PROPOSED ABOVE.
CROSEG
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
0.0.
H.K.D. I. & G.D.
NEWS DEPT.
F.0. F.E.D.
J.I.R.D.
O.L.A. O.P.A.
J.I.P.G.D.
NEWS DEPT.
CONFIDENTIAL
Registry No.
DEPARTMENT
भि !!!
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Confidential
PRIORITY MARKINGS
(Date)
Flash Immediate Priority
Routine
Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram shojɗd
reach addressce(s)
Despatched 3
93/3
325
HEHER
CONFIDENT TAL
CT, D
HIT Her
10
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
דיהידוויידי.
Honcho ---JLL-
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
En Clair. Code Cypher
Draft Telegram to:-
HONG
TRONG
No.
(Date)
And to:-
[Sect
Security classification" -if any
[ Privacy marking
-if any
[Codeword-if any]
Addressed to
telegram No...........
1
531
And to....
---..
22/3
repeated for information to
Saving to
PRO----➖➖.........▬▬▬....
HONG KONG
FILIDINI
(date)
PEKING
Repeat to:-
PEKING 986
Saving to:-
Distribution:- H.K. Dept. I.& 3. Dept. News Dept.
FED, JIRD, OLA, OPA, JIPOD, Newe Copies to:- Dept.
Flare B
Your telegram No. 344: Film Stars
We agree with the line proposed in your
paragraph 4. We consider, however, that the
reference to NCNA should be omitted in order that
this exercise may be kept separate from the question
of prison visits. We entirely agree it should be
kept out of the Political Advisers talks on that
subject.
2.
Flow, C
We feel,
paragraph 1 of Peking telegram No.223 against.
Seem to us Convineme
however, that Hopson's aruments in
pursuing this through femas
༡/
By handling it informally through the channel
referred to in your telegram No. 331 we make it
possible for the Chinese to consider the proposition
without striking an attitude; and it would involve
no commitment for either side at the initial stage.
We doubt the "alue of using the China Merchants
Steam Navigation Company for the reasons given in
/paragraph 3(c)
paragraph 3(c) of your telegram under reference.
We consider therefore that initially we should
use only the channel referred to in your
telegram No. 331.
3. We are still examining the question of a
reply to the Chinese Vice Linist r's statement
of & Warch on Sino/British relations.
trouble of the e188ion
Whether publicity should be given to the
and Kr. Grey will be taken into account in this
context.
In the meantime there would be every your
advantage in /going ahead as proposed above.on the
Wine Tag Lêng that we should sive no publicity
to the epproach itself.
(8430) D4.833246
1/64 G.W.B Lai. Op 163
влагал
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
I
Reference
Ausay
RECEIVED IN M
M" &
ARCHIVES No.31 i 22 MAR 1968
;PDI/I
(32+)
Mr. Saarzen
Mi.
Agreed with cramenta susijue to
am mohus.
The attached is a draft of
reply
to the Governor's despatel
reporting developments in
Pa
Asport
in Hang
Hang Kang
A Cary 1
Ch
despatel
was sent
6
Mo Murray
o Carlar's letter
Since Last June.
23
under cover 1
HWB. 13/7 of 38 February: I Murray
his letter
FD. /. f
18
replant m
8 March.
2.
Pssteps you
تحميه
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by phone if you
the draft.
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DESPATCH
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GOVERNOR,
ĐÔNG KI
CONFIDENTIAL
and the strong backing that it received from
the great majority of the propre of Hong Kong
sir.
I have the honour to refer to your Despatch Mo. 239
of 13 February 1968 in which you review the principal
developments that have taken place in Hong Kong since
June 1967.
2. It was regrettably inevitable that your despatah
should need to be very largely devoted to reporting on
the course of Communist confrontration in the Colony.
However, I consider your report to be an adairably
accurate and objective history of events during the period
under review. The account of the build-up of the
Commmist campaign last year, the degree and manner of
support from the Chinese Central Government and in
particular, the way that the incident of 8th July at
Sha Tam Kok triggered off the subsequent campaign of
violence, confirm the view that the confrontatim vas an
overspill of the cultural revolution in China. This,
among other things, resulted in a weakening of the channel
of control over local Hong Kong Communiste. But for the
admirably fire and patient policy of the Hong Kong
Government), Paking might have been tempted or obliged
to give full support to the efforts of their loosl
supporters to disturb the status quo and to undermine
authority in the Colony.
CONFIDENTIAL
13.
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.