No 31
!FD1318
Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No.1827 of 6 December.
Repeated for information to Peking,
My telegram No. 1824.
44
Detailed investigation now reveals that at no time during the disposal
of the two fake bombs was there any difficulty in keeping the area in
the immediate vicinity of the bombs clear and no use was made of
chemical mace. It is probably relevant that after the disposal a poster
was put up outside the left wing Nanyang Theatre alleging that the
police had deliberately pulled the bombs to the vicinity of the theatre,
had in exploding then damaged a statue of Chairman Mao and sprayed
employees in the theatre with poison gas. The whole of this therefore
seems to be an attempt to fabricate an incident.
Sir D. Trench
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION C.O. H.K.D.
I. & G.D.
News Dept.
F.O. F.E.D.
J.I.K.D. J.I.P.G.D. News Dept.
O.L.A. O.P.A. DIS MOD
VWWWV
F
PE
ī
"W
تا
SEAR
44
En Clair
FAR KEY HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(D.T(K)
Telno 1824
UNCLASSIFIED
6 December 1967
F013/1
Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No. 1824 of 6 December
Repeated for information to Peking
Very minor incident involving a staff member of the NCNA office occurred
last night when the police were dealing with a suspected bomb in the
vicinity of the NCNA premises. It appears that despite innumerable
police warnings about danger to bystanders a member of the NCNA staff
stayed watching the proceedings and was as a consequence sprayed with
chemical mace:
2. Last night Mr. Poon of the NCNA made an oral protest about the matter
to the Assistant Political Adviser. This morning the Left Wing Press
publishes a formal protest by the whole staff of the NCNA. This alleges
that the police dragged the suspected bombs near the NCNA building
before detonating them, that the spraying of the staff member was
another deliberate nad provocation and that the Hong Kong Government had
engaged in a whole series of attacks on the "patriotic" Press. It
culminates in a demand for an apology, compensation and a guarantee that
such incidents would not recur.
3. The point was made orally to the NCNA that people should not stand
round watching the detonation of bombs when the police had asked them
not to do so.
Sir D. Trench
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
C.O. Hong Kong Dept.
I. & G. Dept.
News Dept.
F.O. F.E.D.
J.I.R.D.
J.I.P.G.D. News Dept.
0.L.A. O.P.A.
DIS MOD
متر
→ |
Ed (4206)
Reference..
FD 13 18
42
43
FOLIOS (42)+43) TRANS FORKED
To FC 3/20 (136) +137
Respectively
Cypher/Cat A
RESTRICTED
3/44 175
RIVED IN |
No 31.
2 NOV 1967 |
FD1318
IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (D.T.D.)
Telno. 1774
RESTRICTED
28 November 1967
Addressed to Peking telegram No. 633 of 28 November, Repeated for
information to Commonwealth Office.
paragraph 3. F23) 3 182
Your telegram No. 273 paragraph 3.
Semo
Hsueh Ping has been visited by his wife (Lee Kwok Fai) on 20 July, 14
August, 12 September, 20 October and 10 November. On 14 August two
persons accompanied his wife but were refused access because they
refused to identify themselves. However, on 12 September and subsequent
visits she was accompanied by Lam Fuk (2651/1788) and Yuen Kwok Kong
(7086/0948/0342) both of whom are staff members of the New China News
Agency.
Commonwealth Office please pass Peking Immediate 633.
Sir D. Trench.
[Repeated as requested)
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
0.0.
H.K.D. I. & G.D.
News Dept.
F.E. & P.D.
F.O.
F.E.D.
р.а.
DDDDD
J.I.P.G.D.
J.I.R.D.
News Dept. D.I.S.M.O.D.
J
RESTRICTED
E
+
·
I
1
י
||
Timis was said
MA
rebegram from thay Kong
With the Compliments of the
Political Adviser
Hong Kong M. Wilym
Fww
13
تل
1
SCR 6/2621/67
SECRET
40
November 9tlı, 1967.
RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES Non 31
Hauch Ping
Ping
Fc131876
F01318
Would you please refer to the correspondence_resting
with your telegram No. 100 of 30th September to the Foreign Office about
visits to Hsueh Ping in prison.
2.
I am afraid that we cannot be very helpful over this. The regulations
governing visits to prisoners are very clear and the only way, short of
enacting yet more new legislation, of preventing visits to Hsueh Ping
would be to bend the regulations quite blatantly. We do not wish to do
this because, apart from other more general considerations, we have
based our action against the communist law breakers here entirely on the
need to maintain law and order strictly and impartially. Wo have
followed the logic of this through as far as the charging of 3 policemen
with the murder of a communist trouble-maker while in gaol custody. We
have had some difficulty in persuading people of the purity of our
motives and should not wish therefore to undermine our position by
obviously discriminating against an N.C.N.A. smployee.
3.
I am sending a copy of this letter to Geminara in the Commonwealth
Office and to Denson in the Foreign Office,
See münte ar-38.
I fear the in the right
P. Cradock, Esq.,
p.a.
answer.
12
Office or H.M. Charge d'Affaires, PEKING.
10
있
(E.T. Davies)
you
SECREI
Cypher/Cat A
Copris also entend
F23/20R
Fc22/7
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN
V.XVES NË 31 ¡MUCT 1967
39
ITY PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
Telno 146
CONFIDENTIAL
13 October 1967
FD13/8
Addressed to Foreign Orfice telegram No. 146 of 13 October. Repeated for
information to Hong Kong.
I well understand for reason given in nong kong telegram No. 1501 a
gesture or amnesty by nong kong Government would be difficult at any
time and particularly so at present moment. The recent Chinese protest
and accompanied publicity in Chinese Press reinforces this point I think
we must wait in hope some thing in this line may be possible if
propitious moment arrives.
2.
Hungchow incident also makes it less advisable to attempt any immediate
relaxatien or movement restrictions in London. By taking inititive now
we might seem to be giving way to Chinese pressure and contact between
Chinese subassy and Chinese ships wight lead to further trouble. Again
it would seen better to wait until temperature has fallen slightly
before making a Love.
+
FL13/8
the Chinese 3. In the meantime we shall continue to remind of our
outstanding applications for exit visas on medical grounds. It may be
that they will allow women and children out in small numbers over a
period. There is nowever a possibility that they may prefer to play game
as if the burning had never occured. un this hypothesis they would be
unreceptive to visa applications simply for women and children but may
grant exit visas for time- expired members of staff and their families
if replacementa were offered. See my immediately following telegram not
to all) for details. I do not think that the time as quite arrived for
this last gambit but I think we should now be considering possible
replacements so that we would be ready
Foreign Office pass to Hong Kong 51.
aborti
FC3/20
Fez:!>
Mr. Hopson
dent 07202 13 October Recd 12092 13 October
[Repeated as requested?
FU/CO/WI. DISTRIBUTION
F.E.D.
Fersonnel Dept.
E.&O.D.
LEKER
CONFIDENTIAL
(5690) AOSL
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
CONFIDENTIAL
3
to 31
Minutes
t
Flag A(3
37
Flag B(37)
L
Kr. Depron
FD13/8
ACCELS TO IMPRISONED JOURNALISTS
Peking have recommended with some just- ification (Peking telegram No.
124) that no visit shoulu be allowed to Hauch Ping (the N.C.N.A.
Journalist imprisoned in Hong Kong) unless the Chinese allow similar
visits to Grey. Hong Kong have pointed out that their present
regulations make it extremely diffi- cult to treat Hauch differently
from other people and that all prisoners are by law allowed to be
visited by "relatives and friegs once a month (Hong Kong telegram No.
1487).
2. I have discussed this with Hr. Gaminara of the Commonwealth Office,
who says that they cannot see any alternative to accepting the
Governor's recommendations that visits should be allowed to continue.
They think that it would be undesirable to establish ■ special category
of prisoners and particularly so if it was necessary to pass a new
Ordinance in order to prevent visits to Hsueh.
3.
Reluctantly, I cannot see any alternativ: to accepting these arguments.
I fear it i that we have less chance of putting pressure on the Chinese
to allow visits to Grey but I do not think that in any case that cutting
off visits to Hsueh would force the Chinese to be more lenient.
-
4. The real problem is what to do about Grey in the long term. I think
there can be little doubt that he will not be released until Haueh is
released or deported from Hong Kong. If this is so, it is only a
question of deciding on the best time to arrange an exchange. Ideally we
would hope to do this after it had been demonstrated that the Hong Kong
Government had won its confrontation with the beal communists, and the
situation had became calmer. In these circumstances it might be possible
to arrange an exchange without either encouraging the Hong Kong com-
munists or showing the Chinese that their
blackmail tactics ware successful and sould be repeated. This ideal
situation will howeve not exist for sometime. In the Heanwhile, Grey
will languish in Peking and his morale will doubtles suffer. It is also
possible that demands will begin to be made in this. country that more
should be done to secure his release (articularly after Parliament
re-assembles) and such demands might make it harder to secure some
reasonable arrangements with the Chinese.
5.
I therefore suggest, that in answering this telegram we should also
revert to the
CONFIDENTIAL
/question
H
CONFIDENTIAL
Minnes
question of exchanging Grey for Hsueh. We could ask Peking and Hong Kong
whether they think that it might be an appropriate time to sound out the
Chinese on this in a further three weeks. I submit a draft telegram.
سے
(D. C. #11 on) Wilson) 12 October. 1967
This has bem overtaken
Peking Pelegram No. 146. commenting
No. 1501
Mant.
NORT
by
Hong Kong Kul.
on
to Co
No actin
24/1
M
NA
I have
manurd
recur lette
letter
B
197xi
separ with
from Peterning
om
ow Versi
have given ow
мей
Mr Gaminara, c.o.
This will have
t aren't
for the mompres
p.a.
ONFIDENTIAL
7 13/100
107/20
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
CYPHER/CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
PRIORITH HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
те
1487
CONFIDENTIAL
4 October 1967
(D.T.D.)
F013/8.
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No 31ţ
10 OCT 1967 →
Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No.1487 of 4 October.
Repeated for information to Peking.2/38/76.
Peking telegram No. 100 to Foreign Office:
Prison Visits.
Hauch Ping is a prisoner Visits to such people
Unfortunately, we have a real difficulty. convicted in the courts of a
criminal offence. are governed by the "prison rules" made by the
Governor-in-Council in 1954 in pursrance of the Prisons Ordinance (CAP.
234, Section 25). The relevant portion [paragraph 48 on page A-18) reads
as follows:-
"No persons other than relatives are friends of a prisoner, shall be
allowed to visit him except by special authority.
Such visits by relatives and friends shall, subject to such restrictions
as may be imposed for the maintenance of discipline and order in the
prison and for the prevention of crime, be allowed in the manner
following
(a) They shall be allowed to visit a prisoner once a month and
no more than three persons shall be allowed at one time;...
2. Hence, under the existing law it is not open to us to forbid visits
to Hsueh Ping unless they should constitute a threat to discipline and
good order, which so far they have not.
The law could of course be amended by the Governor-in-Council. But it
would be extremly difficult to draw an amendment which discriminated
against the particular class of prisoner in question; and in any case
discriminatory enactment of this kind, besides being objectionable in
principle, would be certain at this particular time to attract a great
deal of attention and controversy.
3. My reluctant conclusion is that matters had best be left as they are,
but I should welcome your views.
Please pass Peking telegram No. 565.
Sir D. Trench
Sent 07382 5 October
Recd. 07452 5 October
[Repetition to Peking referred for departmental decision]
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
C.0. H.K.D.
F.0.
I. & G.D.
F.E.D. News Dept. J.I.R.D.
Sepwal
38
1-414
етло- мат
5/10
VVVVV
CONFIDENTIAL
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry No.
DEPARTMENT
FD13/8.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret
Secret
Confidential
Restricted
Unclassified
PRIORITY MARKINGS
Flash Immediate Priority Routine
}
* Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should
reach addressce(a)
(Date).............
Despatched
---|·
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
En Clair. Code Cypher
Draft Telegram to :-
[Security classification]
-if
[
Privacy marking -if any
[Codeword-if any]
Addressed to
-----OIL' LIILIILILY.
Peking
No...
CONFIDENTIAL
PERING
SUSPEND
#+++++++ -Tr
w.36
...
LJIL..
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----
telegram No..
ILJJL
(date) ....
--------------------IJILILII----II YLL H➖➖ --➖➖➖ TOILIJALLOTZPI
And to
tion to ....
HONG KONG
K.........JJLELEGJENDEN H rakas rakov¬ıkı--------- COPIESATELLITE
(Date)
+++
And to:-
repeated for information to
POYILIN.... PP‒‒
1. PINPOIISTIILII ng dresseerdızıKIELIKTJI.....................TIZA
Repeat to:-
Hong Kong
Saving to:-
Saving to.......
. ...
- torbasın bulun
Your telegram No. 124: Prison Visits.
We realise that continued visits to Hsueh maice
(Contrast Sharply with Chinese failure to be anore it harder to persuade
the
› to be more lenient
about Grey, but do not think that it would be wise
for Hong Kong to create a special category of
prisoners at this stage by bending the regulations
to deny access to Hsueh or passing a special Ordinanc
(relax beally
to cover cases such as his. We therefore agree/
with the Governor's recommendation that the matter
is best left as it is.
Distribution:-
2.
Day!
Copies to:-
At some stage we will almost certainly have
ச to try to arrange exchang borey for Hsueh.
Ideally
we would wish to do this after the situation in
Hong Kong had returned to normal but this is likely
to take some time, and we do not wish hlez Grey
to remain under house arrest and incommunicado for
/80
J
so long. Grateful for your views on whether
there would be any hope of success if we tried
in about three weeks time to suggest an exchange
to the Chinese Grateful also for the views of
Hong Kong on whether such an exchange if success-
at that Time Ladversely 3
Efect on the situation wi
rull
would neve e o
(the longer Karm
bluse by encouraging the local communists to committ
with impanatay in
imprenely
The knowled
that they would always be reprieve in the
long run.
(8430) 14.033246 600m
O.W.B Ltd. Op 143
NOTHING TO BE Written in THIS MARGIN
CONFIDENTIAL
Cypher/Cat A
RECEIVED ARCHIV:
PRIORITY PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
1 C OCT 196/
Telno 124
9 October, 1967
336
MA
TOP DO Y
CO.IDENTIAL
FP 13/8.
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No.124 of 9 October, Repeated for
information to Hong Kong,
Hong Kong telegram to Commonwealth Office No.1487: Prison Visits.
Fo
13/8
NTF.
I realize Hong Kong Government's considerable difficulties in this
matter and am hardly qualified to engage in controversial conflagration
of the matter of legal interpretation. From ordinance quoted however it
would seem that visits by relatives and friends are subject to "such
restrictions as may be imposed for prevention of crime". It is arguable
that visit to prisoner by relatives and NCNA colleagues, particularly
colleagues, are likely only to encourage further crime in Hong Kong both
by maintaining morale of prisoner and his colleagues and by allowing
prisoner to give advice on further conduct of Communist Press campaign.
It would follow that restrictions on such visits would be restrictions
for prevention of crime within the meaning of the ordinance.
2. If this is accepted it would be possible by administrative measures
and without amendment of the ordinance to restrict
or deny visit to Hsueh Ping by his colleagues, if not by his wife. I
realize this may seem to be straining the wording of the ordinance but I
must ask that we make every possible effort to establish real
reciprocity of treatment and ensure that NONA prisoners enjoy no solace
which is denied to Grey.
Foreign Office please pass Priority Hong Kong 40.
Mr. Hopson
Sent 01002/9 October Recd 06252/9 October
[Repeated as requested]
DEPARTMENTAL DIS TRIBUTION
дерегей тичий
F.O. F.E.D.
J.I.R.D.
News Dept.
C.O. H.K.D.
I. & G.D.
Jeday
88888
CONFIDENTIAL
TELEGRAM SECTION
Room 124 K.C.S.
Communications Department
F.E.D.
* Please-send-copies of the following telegram-
*Copy/ies of the following telegram has/have been sent
(* delete as applicable)
TO:
160.631
68.
13/8.
From Peking:
2. september 69
67
YTC/1
Hong Kong Situation (+ China's attitude)
(Initials)......
(Signed)
(Department)...
(Date)....
Action taken in Communications Department:
ko...............
(Date)...
21/7/67
AFTER ACTION THIS FORM SHOULD BE SENT TO
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