ISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS) WITH NCNA 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 MFA AND OUR CONTACTS WITH THEM 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
COULD GASILY BE LONG ARGUMENIG ABOUT FERTING 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 SEE CONSIDERABLE RISKS IN GIVING THE IMPRESSION THAT WE ARE
PREPARED TO ALLOW VISITS TO AN UNI, IMITED NUMBER CAS PARAGRAPH (CA)
OF TELEGHAN JA SEI NG 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 MATTERS WHICH ARE OF SUBSTANCE TO US BEFORE THE
CONFIDENTIAL
/CHINESE
-
፡፡
CHINESE HAVE PRESSEI US TO DO 30, AND "ITKOUT OUR HAVING ANY
AURANGE THAT AS A ESULT WE SHALL GAIN ACCESS TO GREY.
4. YOUR TELEGRAM 324, PARAGRAPH 10A),
Į SUGGEST WE NEED TO STRIKE A CAREFUL BALANCE ON THE EXTENT TO WHICH
WE REPRESENT OUR TERMS AS SPECIAL CONCESSIONS. I CONCEDE WE CANNOT
REPRESENT THEM AS BEING PERFECTLY NORMAL CESPECIALLY IN VIEW OF THE
ATRITIONAL CONCESSIONS NOT ITUPOSED) AS THIS WOULD BE BOTH TOO
TRANSPARENT AND UNLIKELY TO SATISFY THEN, BUT TO MAKE OUT THAT THEY
WERE QUITE UNUSUAL CONCESSIONS WOULD BOTH HAND THEM A FROPAGANDA
VICTORY AND CUT THE GROUND CUT FROM UNDER MY FEET HERE, WHERE I
MUST DO MY BEST TO REPRESENT THEM AS NOT UNDULY ABNORMAL.
5. AS A CONCRETE PROPOSAL, I SUGGEST SUBSTITUTING FOR THE LAST
SENTENCE OF PARAGRAPH 1CA) AND FOR PARAGRAPH 1(8) OF YOUR TELEGRAM
324 IF THE NAMES OF THE JOURNALISTS AT PRESENT IN PRISON ARE
SUPLIED TO US, WE ARE PREPARED TO AGREE (PROVIDED THAT THE PRISONER
DOES NOT OBJECT) TO A SPECIAL IS IT TO EACH INDIVIALLY BY HIS
EMPLOYER AND ONE OTHER OFFICIAL OF THE NEWSPAPER EM LOYING HIM
SEMICOLON OR ALTERNATIVELY ONE NCNA REPRESENTATIVE, IF THIS IS
PREFERRED1
6. H.M. CHARGE WOULD I HOPE STRESS THAT THOSE IN QUESTION MUST BE
BONA FIDE JOURNALISTS, AND HE MIGHT THEN GO ON TO ENQUIRE THE
NUMBERS LIKELY TO BE INVOLVED. HE COULD THEN SUGGEST THAT AFTER
AGREEMENT ON THE NUMBERS IN FEKING THE NCNA IN HONG KONG SHOULD
COMMUNICATE TO THE POLITICAL ADVISER THE NAMES OF THE PRISONERS
AND THOSE PROPOSING TO VISIT THEM, IN ORDER THAT APPROXIMATE
TIMES OF VISITS AND OTHER DETAILS MIGHT BE COMMUNICATED TO NONA.
7. FINALLY, I CAN ONLY REPEAT MY 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 SO.
F. 0. PLEASE PADS PEKING 76.
SIK.
DEPARTMENT?
F.O.
F.E.D.
C.O. H.K.D.
NNNNN
EMI WA DILAKTIENTAL DECISION]
ADVANCE COPIES DENT
ITIAL
copy also on
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CONFIDENTIAL
pr
PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
трам
オFEB
26 February 1968
FD1/1
Cypher/Cat A
IMMEDIATE
Telno 147
NFIDENTIAL
300
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 147 of 26 February. Repeated
for information to Hong Kong.
197
Hong
Your telegram No. 324 to Hong Kong:
Prison Visits.
In making approach here I shall have to refer to conversations with
Hsueh on 28 January and 31 January in which he questioned that
arrangements be made for "responsible officials of NONA" to visit NONA
and "patriotic" journalist prisoners.
Hauch will assume we are prepared to meet Chinese on this
It will question and that therefore NONA will be making visits.
therefore be necessary for me to state at outset that a NONA
representative will be allowed to accompany employer in each case in
calling on patriotic" journalist, rather than be asked, as your
paragraph (b) suggests.
2. I have no other comments and hope I may now receive authority to make
approach if possible tomorrow 27 February.
Sir D. Hopson
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INWARD TELEGRAM
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FROM
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No.
"26 Febmary RITY.
[Priority]
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TO. FOL FDI/I
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26/2
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(296
297
•
Your telnos. 323,324 and 325
to Hong Kong.
It would be helpind if future such telegrams could
be repeated
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23
me
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هار
me
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ripeal immediate. Those under reference though despatched
Jebruary did not rach until 25 February (Sunday) This frequently happens
when your telegrams to me marked only priority.
FO
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مگر
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FED 5 нко I DSAO. bomis. 11.
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(208)
Pc. Bh
TOP COP
Cypher/Cat A
IMMEDIATE PEKING
ΤΟ
FOREIGN OFFICE
REC
Telno 145
24 February 1968
JARCH
2 FEB 1968
CONFIDENTIAL
FDI
607
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 145 of 24 February, repeated
for information to Hong Kong.
325
Hong Kong telegram No.-234: Prisoners.
In view of the considerable delays to which a solution of this question
has already been subjected and of Importance generally of getting
perpetuating movement as soon as possible, I trust I shall be receiving
very early authority to proceed as suggested in paragraph 3 and
paragraph of telegram under reference. I attach great importance to the
inclusion of NCNA representative.
Foreign Office pass Hong Kong No. 94.
Sir D. Hopson
DEPARTMENTAI, DISTRIBUTION
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1. & G.P. News Dept. O.L.A.
[Repeated as requested]
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58
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CONFIDENTIAL
2.
FD!!
CYPHER/CAT A
PRIORITY COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG
(297)
TELNO 324
23 FEBRUARY, 1968 (F & HKD)
CONFIDENTIAL.
ADDRESSED TO HONGKONG TELEGRAM NO 324 OF 23/2 REPEATED FOR INFORMATION
TO PEKING.
MY IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING TELEGRAM:
296
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 BEEN TRYING
TO SEE HOW SOME PROGRESS COULD BE MADE OVER THE QUESTION OF VISITS TO
IMPRISONED NCNA AND OTHER JOURNALISTS,
ALL THESE PRISONERS HAVE OF COURSE BEEN RECEIVING REGULAR VISITS BUT, 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 N CNA AND THE POLITICAL
ADVISER WHO HAS BEEN INSTRUCTED TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THEM,
(B)
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 NCNA TO BE INCLUDED IN VISITS BY THE EMPLOYERS 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.)
2.
THE HANDLING OF THE APPROACH TO NCNA IN HONG KONG WOULD
DEPEND ON WHETHER IT IS POSSIBLE TO ENGAGE IN A TWO-WAY
.
!
CONFIDENTIAL
/DISCUSSION
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 N CNA 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 CN A, THEN PRESUMABLY IT WILL BE
NECESSARY TO STATE FROM THE OUTSET THAT REPRESENTATIVES OF N CNA 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 BECAME CLEAR THAT THE CHINESE
WERE PREPARED TO MAKE VISITS ONLY TO ALL OR 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.
CROSEC
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NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
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DEPARTMENT
led cices
t
And time (31.12.) telegrum should
HWB&F Far Easter each addomete
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
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Confidencial
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Unclassifed
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0245
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LIJILI PE
[B]
CYPHER
Security classification"]
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En Clair
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[
Privacy marking -if any
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[Codeword-if any).
Addressed to Song Kong
-------
324
telegram No...
HONG NOA No
HONG KUNG
(date)
23/2
324
23/2
And to
repeated for information to
Peking()
Saving to
(Date)
And to:-
PRIORITY
Repeat to PHING 184
Saving to:-
Distribution:-
Departmental
FED HKD
Copies to:-
M.i.p.t. : 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
All
that we have been trying to see how some progress
could be made over the question of visits to
imprisoned NCNA and other journalists.
these prisoners have of course been receiving
regular visits but, 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.
(b) If asked, Hop on should also say that the
journalist question of visits by NCNA to non-NCNA prisoners
should not be a major difficulty, adding that
/arrangements
TH
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Dd. 32853 BU NESSU
CONFIDENT IAL
arrangements can be made for representatives
of NCNA to be included in visits by the
employers 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.)
2.
The handling of the approach to NCNA in
Hong Kong would depend on whether it is possible
If (as
to engage in a two-way discussion or whether it
must be on the basis of single messages.
would seem desirable) the first is possible,
then efforts should be made to emphasise that it
is the employers of non-NČNA journalists who are
being granted access and representatives 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 NCNA 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 NCNA, then
presumably it will be necessary to state from
the outset that representatiges of NCNA can be
included in visita by employers and possibly also
that NCNA can represent the employers where
the latter are unavailable.
3. The Chinese might produce a list of
"patriotic journalists" which included large
/numbers
CONFIDENTIAL
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
13. 32555 88 (4200)
CONFIDENTIAL
numbers of people who were clearly not journaliste
We would hope that, In these circumstances, it accept that
you will have
would be possible to delete these from the list
and tell the Chinese that access would be
allowed only to the remainder. But if it became
clear that the Chinese were prepared to make ri
visits only to all or none, it would have been
demonstrated that they were not seriously
interested in a reasonable quid pro quo for
visits to Grey, and we should have to reconsić
the position.
4.
Grateful for urgent comments.
Dam
CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAL
CYPHER/CAT A
PRIORITY COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG
FD!/1
TELNO 323
23 FEBRUARY, 1968 (HWB AND F)
CONFIDENTIAL.
ADDRESSED TO HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO 323 OF 23/2 REPEATED FOR INFORMATION
TO PEKING,
NOT need.
295
YOUR TELEGRAM NO 212 AND PEKING TELEGRAM NO 133: PRISON VISITS.
! 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. 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 PRISONERS OF CHINESE RACE, BUT I HOPE THAT 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
IDEALLY, I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED TO GRANT ACCESS TO QUOTE PATRIOTIC
JOURNALISTS UNQUOTE, ONLY BY THEIR EMPLOYERS: BUT, AS PEKING HAVE
POINTED OUT, WE RISK DESTROYING THE WHOLE BARGAIN BY INSISTING ON THIS.
I AM GRATEFUL THEREFORE THAT YOU ARE
PREPARED TO INCLUDE NCNA 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 REPRESENTATIVE OF NC NA AND, IN ADDITION,
THAT VISITS BY N C NA 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 AS 15
CONFIDENTIAL
/MINUTES
1
CONFIDENTIAL
C.O. TELEGRAM NO. 323 TO HONG KONG
2.
MINUTES PER VISIT SINCE WE WOULD NOT WISH THE CHINESE TO
INSIST THAT VISITS TO GREY SHOULD BE LIMITED TO SUCH A SHORT PERIOD. IT
MIGHT BE EASIER TO DEAL WITH THIS IF VISITS ARE MADE IN A SPECIAL ROOM
AS SUGGESTED IN PARAGRAPH 7(B) OF YOUR TELEGRAM.
5. I DO NOT THINK THAT THERE IS MUCH TO BE GAINED BY ASKING THE CHINESE
TO DEFINE THEIR MEANING OF QUOTE FORMAL UNQUOTE VISITS. ON THE CONTRARY
IT MIGHT ENCOURAGE THEM TO INCREASE THEIR DEMANDS. IF WE CAN ACHIEVE
ACCESS TO GREY BY MEANS OF VISITS OF ANY SORT, SO MUCH THE BETTER, AND
IT DOES NOT MUCH MATTER WHAT THE CHINESE CALL THEM. I SUGGEST THAT WE
OURSELVES SHOULD USE THE WORDS QUOTE SPECIAL VISITS UNQUOTE TO EMPHASISE
THEIR EXCEPTIONAL NATURE AND MINIMISE THE RIGHT OF THOSE CONCERNED TO
MAKE THEM.
6. IT IS RECOGNISED HERE THAT IF THIS FAILS IT IS AS FAR AS WE SHOULD GO
IN MAKING CONCESSIONS IN HONG KONG TO GAIN ACCESS TO GREY. TO GO FURTHER
MIGHT PUT AT RISK OUR POSITION IN HONG KONG: WE WOULD BE ABANDONING A
POLICY OF FIRMNESS IN OUR DEALINGS THAT HAS BROGHT US THROUGH THE RECENT
TROUBLES AND WOULD ENCOURAGE CHINESE HOPES THAT WE CAN STILL BE PUSHED
INTO MAKING SUBSTANTIAL CONCESSIONS THERE
7.
-
DETAILED SUGGESTIONS ON HOW THIS EXERCISE SHOULD BE HANDLED WITH THE
CHINESE ARE CONTAINED IN MY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING TELEGRAM.
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----1---101
YPHER
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