this stage confine himself to saying that his
instructions are that an NCNA representative
will be allowed to accompany the employer in
each case. If the Chinese continue to press
this point, we would then consider with you
and decide whether it was better handled in
Bookieef Hans, Hong.);
/(b)
Flag F
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
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Flowey I
CONFIDENTIAL
(b) The bona fides of names on the Chinese list -
4.
and a decision on this must in the final
instance rest with you in Hong Kong -
Your paragraph 4
We fully share your wish to minimise the
propaganda opportunities for the Chinese, and
we hope that the substitution proposed in
paragraph 1(a) above helps to meet your point.
5.
As this has become so involved, m.i.f.t.
sets out the plan of action for Hopson in
telegram No. 324 revised in accordance with this
telegram. Hopson is being instructed to approach
the Chinese as soon as you have confirmed that
you have no objections to the changes.
Висока.
28
Departmental dist
CONFIDENTIAL
Mon to
ape
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Copies also on F413/8 (157 and FD 13/882
Enter.
305
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31)
28 FEB 1968
FDI
-
Kr. Samuel
ACCESS TO COLUNIST PRISONERS IN HONG KONG AND
TC MR. GREY
Problem
The Governor bas suggested some modifications to our
proposals about how the matter of access to prisoners should
be handled in Hong Kong and Peking; but he also takes the
opportunity to repeat his warning that the concessions and
arrangements may run us into dangerous repercussions in Hong
Kong. His suggestions involve a rather more precise statement
in Peking of the conditions under which we are prepared to
allow visits to prisoners in Hong Kong, but they do not radically
alter the substance of our approach. The Chargé d'Affaires in
Peking has proposed one modification
and ourselves
-
-
acceptable to the Governor
and has pressed for early instructions. The crux
of the matter remains whether the importance we attach to
obtaining access to Mr. Grey justifies the risks involved in
the concessions we would be making to the Chinese over access
to prisoners in Hong Kong.
Recommendation
2.
I recommend that
(a) we accept the Governor's proposed modifications,
particularly since they seem to go some way towards
reducing the risks in Hong Kong to which he has
drawn attention;
(b) subject to the Governor's final concurrence, we now
instruct Sir Donald Hopson to take action with the
CONFIDENTIAL
/Chinese.
CONFIDENTIAL
2.
Flag M FC13/8 (156
Flags H, I,
J
296
2297
304
Flag K
301
Chinese.
I attach draft telegrams to Hong Kong and Feking. Commonwealth
Office have already concurred.
Background and Argument
3.
The background is set out in my submission of 22 February.
Our proposals, on which the Governor has now commented, are
in C.0. telegrams 323, 324 and 325 to Hong Kong.
4. The Governor has from the start been most reluctant to
allow N.C.N.A. access to non-N.C.N.A. journalists in prison.
He has, however, already accepted (as he acknowledges in
paragraph 1 of his telegram No. 241) that access to Mr. Grey
is a compelling reason for special treatment of the latter
category. The points at issue in telegram No. 241 are therefore
not of principle (though he takes the occasion to remind us
strongly that he conceded the issue of principle only reluctantly),
but a matter of tactics. The Governor has from the outset been
anxious that we should spell out in detail to the Chinese in
Peking the conditions under which we were prepared to allow
visits. His concern was that if we did not do so and there
were subsequently difficulties over detail in Hong Kong, we
would be charged by the Chinese with bad faith. Sir Donald
Hopson has thought that detailed points were better dealt with
Flag G (299) in Hong Kong (paragraph of Peking telegram No. 133). Pre-
Flag J
304
sumably he has been concerned lest the whole exercise might
founder on an argument over detail in Peking. For reasons set
out in paragraph 3 of Commonwealth Office telegram No. 325,
the Commonwealth Office and ourselves decided on balance that
/it
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
-3-
Flag_L
300
it would be better that discussion of detailed arrangements
should take place in Hong Kong. However the arguments advanced
in paragraph 2 of Hong Kong telegram No. 241 about the risks
of substantive discussion in Hong Kong are impressive. I
think therefore that we should be prepared to meet the Governor
over this; in particular I think he is right in stressing that
we should avoid entering into any commitment with the Chinese
about more than a single visit to each prisoner until we have
achieved the quid pro quo in respect of Mr. Grey.
5. The Governor's proposals meet the only point of substance
which Sir D. Hopson raised (in Peking telegram No. 147) on
our original proposals. I sent a personal message to Sir D.
Hopson that we would get instructions to him as soon as possible,
but that they could not arrive in time for action on 27 February.
6. The risks which the proposed concessions and arrangements
involve are discussed in paragraph 9 of my submission of
22 February, to which I have nothing to add. In view of the
importance of obtaining access to Kr. Grey, I think it is right to
accept them. As I see it, the purpose of the Governor in
his latest telegram has not been to call in question the decision
that the of principle, but to remind us and Sir D. Hopson
difficulties he has been making are not merely obstructiveness
on his part.
Copies to:
Sir D. Allen
Mr. Carter
-
June вить гламу
(James Kurray)
27 February, 1968
Incuased with To Rodgers who appurzae Інстал draft Abs.
CONFIDENTIAL
Вязать
SFB.
the
Copier also on
Fer312 153 FD131800
pa
CONFIDENTIAL
COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG
CYPHER/CAT, A
RIORITY
TELNO. 325
RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES No.31
28 FEB 1968
西小
23 FEBRUARY 1968 (H.K.D. & F.D.)
CONFIDENTIAL.
ADDRESSED TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG TEL NO 325 OF 23/2 REPEATED FOR
INFORMATION TO PEKING,
FOLLOWING FROM GALSWORTHY.
YOUR TELEGRAM NO 234: PRISON VISITS.
YOUR TELEGRAM WAS RECEIVED AFTER OUR TELEGRAMS NOS 323 AND 324
HAD BEEN APPROVED.
2. WE AND FOREIGN OFFICE FULLY ACCEPT POINT IN LAST SENTENCE OF
PARAGRAPH 2 OF YOUR TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE. YOU WILL SEE THAT THIS IS
REFLECTED IN PARAGRAPH 6 OF OUR TELEGRAM NO 323.
3. WE REALISE THAT YOU WOULD PREFER THAT NOTIFICATION OF CONDITIONS (1)
TO (V) SHOULD FIRST BE MADE TO CHINESE IN PEKING (PARAGRAPH 3 OF YOUR
TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE). WE AND FOREIGN OFFICE HOWEVER STILL FEEL ON
BALANCE THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER THAT THE DISCUSSION OF DETAILED
ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD TAKE PLACE IN HONG KONG. WE RECOGNISE THAT WHEREVER
THE NOTIFICATION IS MADE THERE IS RISK OF FURTHER ARGUMENT ABOUT THE
CONDITIONS, AND ALSO OF CONFUSION BY THE CHINESE IN TRANSMISSION BETWEEN
PEKING AND N CNA. BUT OUR ASSESSMENT IS THAT ON THE WHOLE THE BEST
CHANCE OF SETTLING THIS ASPECT OF THE MATTER LIES IN DIRECT EXCHANGES
WITH N CNA IN HONG KONG, WE TAKE POINT IN LAST SENTENCE OF YOUR
PARAGRAPH 3. WE SUGGEST THAT HOPSON SHOULD ADD (PARAGRAPH 1(A) OF OUR
TELEGRAM NO 324) THAT THE SPECIAL VISITS WOULD BE SUBJECT TO
SATISFACTORY AGREEMENT ON ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS BETWEEN THE POLITICAL
ADVISER AND N CNA. A PHRASE OF THIS SORT WOULD GIVE SOME PROTECTION
AGAINST CHARGES OF BAD FAITH IF THE CHINESE PRODUCED A LIST OF SUCH
LENGTH THAT IT COULD NOT BE ACCEPTED IN TOTO AND THE WHOLE ARRANGEMENT
BROKE DOWN IN CONSEQUENCE.
CONFIDENTIAL
14.
CONFIDENTIAL
COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TELEGRAM NO. 325 TO HONG KONG
4.
2.
YOUR PARAGRAPH 4. WOULD WE NECESSARILY WANT TO REFER AT THIS
STAGE TO A SINGLE VISIT? CLEARLY IT WOULD HAVE TO BE UNDERSTOOD
THAT THERE COULD ONLY BE ONE SET OF CHINESE VISITS IN EXCHANGE
FOR ONE VISIT TO GREY. BUT IF WE ACHIEVE A VISIT TO GREY ON THE BASIS
NOW SUGGESTED, WE MIGHT WELL WANT TO TRY TO REPEAT THE PATTERN
ON A FUTURE OCCASION OR OCCASIONS. WE FEEL THEREFORE THAT IN
ENDEAVOURING TO MOUNT THIS OPERATION WE SHOULD USE LANGUAGE WHICH WOULD
IMPLY NEITHER THAT WE WERE THINKING PURELY AND SIMPLY IN TERMS OF A ONCE
FOR ALL OPERATION, NOR THAT WE WERE INTENDING IT NECESSARILY TO BE A
PRECURSOR OF OTHERS TO FOLLOW.
5. YOUR PARAGRAPH 5. WE THINK THAT IT MAY BE NECESSARY FOR THE VISITS
ALL TO TAKE PLACE WITHIN A REASONABLY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, SINCE THE
CHINESE MAY REFUSE ACCESS TO GREY UNTIL THE VISITS HAVE ALL BEEN MADE OR
AT ANY RATE ARRANGED. WE FEEL THAT YOUR POINT SHOULD NOT BE MADE TO THE
CHINESE UNTIL WE KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THE NUMBERS INVOLVED MAKE SPACING A
NECESSARY STIPULATION.
CROSEC
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
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CYPHER/CAT A
+ FD 13 1322 R.
CONSIDENTIAL
IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TO COMMONWNAUTH OFFICE
30
香
TELEGRAM NUMBER 212
FIDENTIAL
19 FEBRUARY 1968
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31
28 FEB 1968
ADDRESSED CO TELNO 212 OF 19 FEBRUARY RFI PEKING.
FDI/I
PEKING TELEGRAM TO FO 129: PRISONERS.
IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HE TO TRY TO CLARIFY JUST WHAT IT IS
I AM BEING ASKED TO CONCEDE FOR GREY'S SAKE.
2. THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO ME TO BE AN ARGUMENT ABOUT THE
GENERAL PRINCIPLE OF VISITING BUT ABOUT CA) WHAT IS OR IS NOT
A ''FORMAL'' VISIT SEMICOLON AND (B) TO HOW MANY PEOPLE ''FORMAL''
VISITS CAN BE MADE.
3. THE RULES ABOUT VISITING WERE SUMMARISED IN PARAGRAPH 2(A) OF MY
TELEGRAM 1908 OF 23RD DECEMBER. THIS TELEGRAM PERHAPS ERRS IN NOT MAKING
IT CLEAR HOW LIBERALLY THE RULES ARE NORMALLY
INTERPRETED. IN DETAIL:
(A) ALL PRISONERS ARE, OR CAN BE, VISITED REGULARLY ONCE A MONTH. MORE
OR LESS ANYBODY WITHIN THE CATEGORY OF RELATIVES AND FRIENDS CAN BE LET
IN TO SEE THEM ON THESE VISITS PROVIDED THEY DECLARE WHO THEY ARE, WHICH
IS A SIMPLE SECURITY PRECAUTION ON THE ONE HAND AND A PROTECTION FOR THE
PRISONER ON THE OTHER. THE PRISONER MUST ALSO AGREE TO SEE THEM
SEMICOLON OBVIOUSLY PRISONERS CANNOT BE FORCED TO SEE PEOPLE THEY DON'T
WANT TO SEE. (B) EXTRA VISITS TO INDIVIDUAL PRISONERS CAN BE APPROVED
FOR REASONABLE CAUSE AT THE PRISONER'S REQUEST. AGAIN, ANYBODY WANTING
TO SEE A PRISONER FOR ANY SPECIAL REASONS IS OF COURSE FREE TO ASK TO
VISIT HIM SEMICOLON IF THE REASONS ARE COMPELLING, THE VISIT CAN BE
ALLOWED AGAIN SUBJECT TO THE PRISONER'S
=
AGREEMENT. A PARTICULARLY RELEVANT EXAMPLE IS THAT AN EMPLOYER IS
USUALLY GRANTED ONE VISIT TO AN EMPLOYEE. THUS, ON 14 FEBRUARY WHEN THE
MANAGER OF THE COMMUNIST YIEN YIEH COMMERCIAL BANK ASKED TO SEE SIX
EMPLOYEES HE WAS ALLOWED CACCOMPANIED BY TWO OTHERS FROM THE BANKS ONE
VISIT TO EACH OF THEM (UNDERLINE NEXT WORD) INDIVID- UALLY.
CONFIDENTIAL
/(u) TO
+
CONFIDENTIAL
HONG KONG TElbbrük NO. 212 TU COMMUNALAIHH OFFICE
2
(C) TO COMPLETE THE BACKGROUND, OR RULES GIVE ANY PRISCI
RIGHT OF ADESS TO HIS CONSULAR REPRESENTATIVE AT ANY TIME:
BUT THIS A COURSE REr'ano Tu a FORMAL REPRESENTATIVE.
THE QUESTION 18 mislila akdawunkinfo run THIS "FORMAL"
VISITS REQUESTED BY THE CHINESE CAK BE MADE "ITHIN THIS FRAMBJURA
OF THE NONKAL VISITING PATTERN GET OUT ABOVE. I mm NUT AT Alda
CLEAN "ARMISHE CHINESE INTEND THE WORD "ru than" Tu kre: DELİ-
COLON BUT TRUE QÜR PULT of view THÊue and TWO POINTS THAT IT is
ESSENTIm To Avoid coNUMDİNG:
L
(A) ANY ADLIšsium or a ruRNAL RIGHT or REPRESENTATIVES OF COILUNIST
URGanISATIONS TO VISIT FRISCHERS, PARTICULARLY WIDE AND
ILL-DEFINED CATEGORIES or PhiSukERS ON GROUPS OF FRISONERS
TOGETHER SEMICOLON AND
(B) THE IMPLIED ADMISSION or Suke PURE OF QUASI-CONSULAR STATUS
FÜR NGA A
ALAHOUGH WE MAY HAVE USED & F u URGAND AS CHANNELS FOR COMUNICATION FROM
TIME TO Tike, I Stila PEEL HE NEED TU DE
VERY CAREFUL IN THE LANGTERM İNTEREST OF HONG KONG ABOUT CONCEDING
QUASI-CONSULAR STATUS TO THEM. THE CONCESSION THẬT WE HAVE ALREADY
kavĒ, UF ukaoTlm Að a NA VISIT TO NOMA'S OWN EMPLOYEES
CAN BE JUSTIFIED UNDER OUR EXISTING RULES.
5.
ON RECONSIDERING THE LATIÊM NOW, IT DEELS TU ME THAT IT MIGHT
BE POSSIBLE FOR US TU wand a hún raUPUSAL TO THE CHINESE THAT WOULD
GU SULE MAI TorniDS KhelING THEIR REQUEST "ITHOUT CONCEDING EITHER
OF THE LU PRIVIPLES ABOVE. 1 #OULD SUgvEST TELLING THEM THAT IN
THINKING FURTHER ABOUT BILIK REQUEST PUR VISITS TU JOURNALISTS
(Pakaurach 1(A) or Pining Indobrak 84) IT OCCURRED TO US THAT THERE
MIGHT HÄVE DEEN A MISUNDERSTmulaG. TWO POINTS WERE NUT CLEAN TỤ
US:-
(1) WHAT THEY MEAST BY " 'Furkal' viSIT AND
(11) TU FugvuSELY "HIGH INDIVIDUALS THEY "JSHED THE VISITS TO BE
PAID.
WE WERE ALWAYS READY TUO APILY QUR MULES FUR PRISON VISITS IN A
REASONABLE MÄNNER. Ir dieY WOULD SUPPLY US WITH THE NAMES OF THE
ADDITIONAL JOURNALISTS [?r. OMITED] WESTION, HE WOULD BE PREPARED TO
CONSIDER PLAKUSTING SINGLE VIŠTIS TO BÁCH OF THEM
INDIVIDUALLY BY :IS EMPLOYER AND/UR A RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL OF THE
ORGANISATION REPLOYING HIM, SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:-
THE PRISONER LUST "UT UBJEJT,
(11) EACH VISIT MUST BE TO A PiiSuned iNDIVIDUALLY,
CONFIDENTLÁL
/(111)THE
CONFIDENTIAL
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 212 Tu COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
-3-
1) THE NUMBER OF VISITORS TO EACH PRISONER AT ANY ONE TIME MUST
BREASONABLY RESTRICTED, 1.E. TO TWO OR THREE VISITORS.
(17) THE TIMING MUST BE CONVENIENT TO THE PRISON AUTHORITIES.
(7) VISITS SHOULD NOT NORMALLY LAST MORE THAN 15 MINUTES EXCEPT WITH
GOOD REASON (THIS LIMIT IS APPLIED GENERALLY TO PRISON VISITS IN THE
INTERESTS OF VISITORS SINCE INTERVEWING FACILITIES ARE NOT
UNLIMITED AND LONGER VISITS WOULD OFTEN MEAN VISITORS WAITING LONGER)
6. VISITS ON THES BASIS (WHICH BIN CHARGE COULD MAKE OUT WERE RATHER
SPECIAL CONDITIONS IF THIS WOULD HELP) WOULD NOT BE AN EMBARRASSMENT.
THEY WOULD ALLOW 'PATRIOTIC JOURNALISTS' TO BE VISITED BY THE
ECITORS OR MANAGERS OF THEIR PAPERS COR SOMEONE SIMILAR) BUT NOT BY
THE N.C.N.A. PER SE. IF HOWEVER THE CHINESE MAINTAIN THAT 'FORMAL'
VISITS MEAN SOMETHING MORE, I SHOULD HAVE TO RECONSIDER WHEN THEIR
EXTRA REQUIREMENTS WERE KNOWN.
7. ON THE OTHER HAND IF, BEFORE MAKING AN APPROACH, H.M. CHARGE WOULD
VISH ANY FURTHER CLARIFICATION, OR ANY MODIFICATIONS WITHIN THIS
FRAMEWORK, I WOULD OF COURSE BE GLAD TO TRY TO MEET HIM.
POSSIBILITIES ARE :-
CA) TO HINT THAT AN N.C.N.A. OFFICIAL COULD ACCOMPANY THE EMPLOYER
AND
(B) TO ARRANGE THAT INTERVIEWS TAKE PLACE IN THE ROOM WHERE LAWYERS
SEE PRISONER CLIENTS, WHICH IS SOMEWHAT MORE COMFORTABLE THAN THE
NORMAL ARRANGEMENTS AND MIGHT BE THOUGHT MORE 'FORMAL
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT CLEAR HOVEVER THAT I WOULD PREFER NOT TO
MAKE THESE CONCESSIONS WHICH WOULD RATHER TOO GREATLY DISTINGUISH
THESE PEOPLE FROM ORDINARY PRISONERS AND I WOULD WISH TO CONSIDER
BEFORE FINALLY AGREEING.
8. THE OPPORTUNITY MIGHT ALSO BE TAKEN TO ENQUIRE FURTHER ABOUT THE
PROPOSED HSUEH PING/GREY EXCHANGE.
F& PLEASE PASS IMMEDIATE PEKING. AS MYTEL 69.
SIR D. TRENCH
(KEPETITION TO PEKING,
KËFERHED FÜR DEPARTMENTAL DELISION]
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION G.. H.A. DEPT. F.U. F.E.D.
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ADVANCE COUPLES SENT
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NEWS DEPT.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAL
Cypher/Cat. A
110 EDIATE FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING
Telno 189
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP CC
26 February, 1968
(F)
Зод
300
Personal for Hopson from Murray.
Noi
Your telegram No. 147 [of 26 February]:
Prisoners.
You will now have seen Hong Kong telegram No. 76 of 26 February. We are
trying to obtain authority for you to go ahead as soon as possible, but
we very much regret that we shall not be able to get instructions to you
in time for action on 27 February.
30S FA
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Registry No.
DEPARTMENT
FD/I
FAR FASTEIN
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
PRIORITY MARKINGS
(Date)
Top Secret Secret Confidential Restricted Unclassified
Emergency Immediate,
Routine
En Clair.
Code Cypher
Draft Telegrin to:-
PEKINS
No
189
(Date)
And to:-
* Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should
reach addresson(s)
26/468
Security classification -If any
CONFIDENTIAL.
[Codeword-if any]
Addressed to
telegram No.........
And to......
26/2
repeated for information to
Saving to
Repeat to:-
Saving to:-
Distribution:-
Sefentantal FE.D.
Copies to:-
181??4/22
9/22
..(date)
P
....... זו חוו--וו-ו.יו
1.
TILLI'II
IMEI
PERSONAL for HOPSON fine MURRAY
Your tel No 147 [1/26 feb ]: Prisoners.
You will now have seen Hong Kong tel. No 76 of 26 February.
We are
trying to oftami authority for you
+
Al-
go abead
مه
Sain
مين
possible, but we
very much regul
that
Sunc
shall not
be able
to
get instructions to
you
in time for action
on 27 Feb.
Jul 26
26 Fut.
[
CYPHER CAT A
Copies also
IMMEDIATE HONG KON
TELEGRAM NO 241
IDENTIAL.
F213/1 (153) + FD12/9 (78
CONSUETIA
TO COMPA
L
TOP CU
Bo
RECEIVED
ARCHIVES NO Y
OFFICE
26 FEBRUARY 1968
27 FEB 1968
1
I
西
ADDRESSED SECRETARY OF STATE RFI PEKING MYTEL. NO. 76 DATE!)
26TH FEBRUARY.
1296
6292
YOUR TELEGRAMS NOS. 323, 324. AND 325: PRISON VISITS.
I 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- (I) THE INCLUSION OF N.C.N.A. IN
THE VISITS AT ALL, WHICH I HAVE HOWEVER ALREADY INDICATED I WOULD ACCEPT
IF NECESSARY:
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: C111) YOUR TELEGRAM NO.
323, PARAGRAPH 3. TO ALLOW VISITS
BY HOWA ALONE WOULD BE A FURTER MOVE AWAY FROM OUR CURRENT
PRISON PRACTICE AND IN THE DIRECTION OF GRANTING NCNĂ 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
IN PUTTING THE CONCESSION INTO THE MINDS OF THE CHINESE, SINCE
VE ARE PREPARED TO ALLOW A RESPONSIPLE OFFICER OF THE EMPLOYING
ORGANISATION TO BE SUBSTITUTED FOR THE EMPLOYER:
CIV) 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:
NEVERTHELESS THIS IS UNLIKELY TO BE A PROBLEM UNLESS THE
NUMBERS ARE LARGE AND CANNOT BE CONVENIENTLY SPACED:
/(V) YOUR
CONFIDENTIAL
COKULENTI AL
HONG KONG TELEGIAL . PAL TO COMPONERAUTZI OFFICE
CV) YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 225, PARAGRAPH 4. OBVICUSLY 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:
CVI) YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 325, PARAGRAPH 5. 1 WOULD DO MY BEST
TO ARRANGE VISITS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, BUT THIS DEPENDS
ON NUMBERS AND WHETHER ANY ADVERSE INTEREST IN THESE VISITS
15 AROUSED PUBLICLY.
2 I WOULD STILL PREFER NOT TO CONDUCT THESE NEGOTIATIONS THROUGH
NONA IN HONG KONG SEMICOLON BUT IF WE DO SO I WOULD STRONGLY ADVISE
THAT IT BE DONE BY EXCHANGES OF MESSAGES CAT LEAST AT FIRST) BECAUSE
CA) IF WE DISCUSS POINTS OF SUBSTANCE CAS OPPOSED TO PURELY ADI11N-
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