AGREEMENT WAS EVENTUALLY REACHED ON NEUTRAL MEETING-PLACE AND TALKS
TOOK PLACE YESTERDAY.
+
2. THE NCNA CHEADED BY LIANG SHAN-YUAN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR) PRODUCED
A LIST OF 20 ''PATRIOTIC JOURNALISTS IN ADDITION TO 2 NONA
PRISONERS, AND THE NAMES OF 14 VISITORS. THEY PROPOSED THAT
2 NONA REPRESENTATIVES PLUS 2 REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH NEWSPAPER
SHOULD VISIT PRISONERS NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT IN GROUPS ACCORDING
TO THEIR EMPLOYERS. SPECIAL ROOMS SHOULD BE PROVIDED FOR VISITS,
AND NORMAL REGULATIONS ON LENGTH OF VISITS AND ENTRY PROCEDURE
SHOULD NOT APPLY. SOKEONE FROM THE PLA'S OFFICE SHOULD BE PRESENT
AT THE PRISON TO ENSURE THAT VISITS WERE CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE ARRANGEMENTS AGREED AT THE DISCUSSIONS. GIFTS, INCLUDING
MAO'S WORKS, SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO BE PRESENTED TO PRISONERS.
3. IN REPLY P.A. POINTED OUT THAT OUR PROPOSAL IN PEKING HAD
BEEN TO EFFECT THAT VISITS SHOULD BE PAID TO INDIVIDUALS AND THAT
NUMBER OF VISITS SHOULD BE TWO ONLY. MCNA PROPOSALS WHICH DID NOT
COMPLY WITH THIS WERE PRIMA FACIE UNACCEPTABLE. NEVERTHELESS HE
WOULD REPORT BACK WHAT HAD BEEN SAIC, AND IF IT WAS THOUGHT ON
EITHER SIDE THAT A FURTHER MEETING WOULD BE USEFUL IT COULD BE
ARRANGED THROUGH THE USUAL CHANNELS.
4. CHINESE ALSO RAISED QUESTIONS OF FILM STARS AND RICE,
+
OBJECTING TO 'DEPORTATION'' OF FORMER, AND REAFFIRMING THEIR
POSITION ON THE GIFT RICE. POLITICAL ADVISER EXPLAINED GOVERNMENT'S
ATTITUDE ON 50TH ISSUES WHILE POINTING OUT THAT HE WAS NOT EKPOWERED
TO TAKE DECISIONS ON EITHER.
5.
THE ATMOSPHERE WAS RELAXED AND THERE WAS NO ABUSE, NONA
REPRESENTATIVES ASSERTED THAT THEY DID NOT WAIT TO MAKE DIFFICULTIES
NELY DETER) INCD TO GET THEIR FUL PORNS OF F..."
/ more s
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CONFIDENTIAL
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FOREIGN OFFICE PLEASE PASS IMMEDIATE PEKING. 110.
SIR D. TRENCH
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
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IMMEDIATE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG
Telegram No. 462
CONFIDENTIAL
13 March, 1968 (HWB)
Addressed to Governor Hong Kong telegram No. 462 of 13 karch,
Repeated for information to Peking.
Your telegram No. 314:
Prison Visits.
We agree.
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TIMEDIATE HONG KONG
TO
Telno 314
CONFIDENTIAL
COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
13 March 1968
94
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の
Japa
FD1378
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Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No. 314 of
13 March, repeated for information to Peking.
My telegram No. 302: Prison Visits.
Our usual NCNA contact, Mr. Poon, telephoned today, and referred to
Hopson's interview with Chinese FA on question of "visits of responsible
persons and representatives of the NCNJ to NCNA journalists and staff of
patriotic newspapers in prison". He suggested details should be
discussed at a meeting tomorrow or the day after between the PA and APA
and Mr. Liang Shang-Yuan (Vice Diretor NONA) and himself at the NCNA
office.
2. The proposal for a meeting at the NCNA office raises the difficulties
foreshadowed in paragraph 2 of my telegram No. 241, but to suggest to
NCNA a meeting in a neutral place might test their bona fides and I
propose to make this suggestion in the first instance. If it fails, we
will try to make arrangements by Exchange of Messages.
Foreign Office pass Immediate Peking as my telegram No. 103.
Sir D. Trench
[Repeated as requested]
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TO
Ju palli
937
RECEIVED IN ARVES No 312
30 APR 968
COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
11 March 1968
501378
98
Telno. 302
CONFIDENTIAL
Addressed Commonwealth Office telegram No. 302 of 11 March Repeated for
information to Peking.
Your telegram Ko. 427: Prison Visits.
In principle, I agree that if the NCNA take the initiative in raising
the question of visits with us we should go ahead with arrangements as
if nothing had happened.
2. On the whole, however, I would prefer not to take the iniative just
yet in stirring up NONA about the matter. We are just in the middle of
another initiative about film stars and the argument over gift rice
continues. I think it may be better not to press the Chinese on too many
problems simultaneously. If all goes well, however, I would hope that we
could if desired raise the question of prison visits towards the end of
this week.
Foreign Office pass Priority Peking telegram No. 96.
Sir D. Trench
¡Repeated as requested!
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
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IMMEDIATE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NO. 427
ا
8 MARCH, 1968 (HWB)
927
CROVVED IN
DES No.31
MO APR 1968
FD13 78
318
CONFIDENTIAL
ADDRESSED TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 427 OF 8 MARCH
REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING.
石
3
PEKING TELNO 166: PRISON VISITS.
IN VIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS REPORTED IN PEKING TELEGRAM NO 174 WE DO NOT
THINK YOU SHOULD TAKE INITIATIVE IN APPROACHING NCNA, IF, HOWEVER, THEY
APPROACH YOU OUR VIEW IS THAT EXCHANGES ABOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR VISITS
SHOULD BE PURSUED FOR TIME BEING AS IF
NOTHING HAD HAPPENED TO AFFECT OUR OFFER. WE ARE REVIEWING THE NEW
SITUATION AND WOULD WELCOME YOUR VIEWS AS SOON AS YOU HAVE RECEIVED AND
STUDIED THE COMMENTS TO WHICH HOPSON REFERS IN HIS TELEGRAM NO 174.
2.
SUBJECT TO YOUR AND PEKING'S VIEWS, WE SEE NO REASON TO DEFER ACTION ON
DEPORTATION OF FILM STARS (OUR TELEGRAM NO 404 REFERS).
CROSEC
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MMEDIATE PERKING
ΤΟ
Telno 152
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FOREIGN OFFICE
1 March 1968
تنا
Japan/5
917.
VED N A- LIVES No.31 ¦
30 APR 1968
FD13/8
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 152 of 1 March, repeated for
information to Hong Kong,
FD1/1 307
Your telegram No. 193: Prison Visits.
I failed to obtain an interview with Mr. Hsueh, Deputy Chinese Minister
Western Europe yesterday afternoon but saw him this morning when I spoke
according to instructions in your telegram No. 347 to Hong Kong.
2. In reply Hsueh at first complained that original Chinese request had
been made for Spring Festival and expressed dissatisfaction at delay. He
then said that he agreed that detailed arrangements for visits should be
made between New China News Agency and Political Adviser in Hong Kong.
Only mattersof principle could be discussed in Peking. In reply to my
question as to how many "patriotic journalists" would be involved he
said he did not (repeat not) know He asked me to clarify our proposal
but this would be no problem.
I had said that visits could for visits to "patriotic journalists". be
made either by employer plus one other official of the newspaper or by
employer and an official of New China News Agency. arrangements mainly
for NCNA or for employer? I side-stepped this question by repeating that
visits could be carried out either by employer plus another official of
newspaper or by employer plus an Hsueh then NCNA representative,
whichever the Chinese preferred. asked whether this meant two visitors
for each prisoner and I confirmed that this was so.
+
Were
3. He went on to say that Bank of China in Hong Kong had reported when
making visit to some of their employees in prison they had met
When I asked hi to explain with "cruel treatment and obstruction". this
he said that Bank officials had brought some fruit candies with them but
were not allowed to hand them over to the prisoners. The prison
officials said that they would store them until prisoners' In any case,
the prisoners release. Obviously fruit would go bad.
The Bank officials
diet was inadequate and so was their clothing. had also brought some
extra clothing for prisoners, but prison officials had once more said
that this could only be stored until I remonstrated at this and said
that I knew prisoners' release. both diet and clothing were adequate in
Hong Kong prisons, most
Hsueh then said he hoped when prisoners gained weight and so on. NONA
officials made their visits they would not meet with similar
I replied naturally bad treatment and unreasonable obstruction. rules of
the prison must be observed.
No more was said on this subject but from what Hsueh said I think we may
assume NCNA will now approach Political Adviser in Hong Kong to arrange
visits. I stressed to Hsuch that "journalists"
+
+
CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAL
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༽༄
must be bona fide and his remark that number should be no problem is
encouraging. I understand prison regulations must be observed but I hope
it will be possible to introduce some flexibility in the matter of
parcels as this will persumably determine what we are allowed to take to
Grey if we are accorded a visit.
5. I should be grateful if Hong Kong would keep us urgently informed of
further developments.
Foreign Office pass Immediate Hong Kong 99.
Sir D. Hopson
[Repeated as requested]
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
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CONFIDENTIAL
PRIORITY
PEKING
TO
Telno 356
FOREIGN OFICE
27 April 1968
7
1/5 pa
RECEVED IN
?ARCHIVES No.31
90
29 APR 1968
FD13/8
Cur'IDENTIL
Aduressed to Foreign urrice telegram No. 556 of 26 Apríl, Repeated for
ini ormation to Hong Kong.
Fu13 (171)
by telegram No. 40: Grey.
It would be useful for me in discussing improvements in Grey's
conditions with the Chinese to now from Hong kong the following
additional points auout treatment of Comunist prisoners tnere:
(a) How many of these prisoners are there to a cell?
(0) How much contact do they have with other prisoners? nat
opportunities do they have for conversation?
(c) Would Hong Kong confim that there are still none in
solitary confinement?
(d) How frequently are they allowed to use prison library?
(e) Do they receive unlimited supplies or books and periodicals? (r) In
practice how long do the regular monthly visits last?
(g) Are they allowed to receive messages from outside, possed
on by prison autnorities?
(h) Are they allowed cards or other forms of recreation? Do
they have any access to the rauio?
(1) Do they have access to orticials to discuss their treatment
in prison anu to put forward complaints?
2. There is another point which I think it would be tactically useful to
take up with the Chinese in any discussions on treatment of Grey. The
.r.A. statement o1 21 July merely states that the Chinese Government nad
decided to restrict nis freedom of movement: "ne must not leave his
residence at will and must await further notice". But without informing
us of any official decision to do so, the chinese nave made his regime
far more rigorous than the statement suggests. He is not allowed free
use of his residence for which he still pays full rent, nor is he
allowed use of all his possessions in the house. His telephone whicn ne
was able to use for the first month was cut off in August. His presunt
treatment is incon:istent with the only official Chinese statement which
we have had on his confinement and notably worse than that ne received
during the first weeks of nis detention.
/ Foreign
CONF 15 ANTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
2.
-
Foreign Ofiice pass Priority lion, Kong 253.
Sir D. Hopson
[Repeated as requested]
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TELEGRAM NUMBER 536
CONFIDENTIAL.
Top
RC copy on Fe13/3 (179
стру
CONFILENTI AL
TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
27 APRIL 1968
RECEIVED I.
49
ARCHIVES NO.51!
29 APR 1968
FD1318
ADDRESSED CO AS MY TELEGRAM NO. 536 DATED 27TH APRIL RF1 PEKING.
PEKING TELEGRAM NO. 348 TO FOREIGN OFFICE : GREY.
Jaspails
WHILE I NATURAL' Y DO NOT WANT TO MAKE IT ANY HARDER FOR HOPSON TO
OBTAIN MORE REGULAR ACCESS TO GREY, I AM MOST RELUCTANT TO START
ANOTHER ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH NCNA FOR FURTHER 'SPECIAL VISITS'.
A SECOND VISIT SO SOON WOULD TEND TO CONSOLIDATE NCNA'S 'SPECIAL
POSITION' HERE, AND PAY PROPAGANDA DIVIDENDS TO THE COMMUNISTS.
HOREOVER, THE CHINESE MIGHT WELL RAISE THE PRICE OF A FURTHER VISIT
TO GREY AND A SECOND NCNA VISIT COULD ENCOURAGE THE CHINESE TO
INCREASE THEIR USE OF GREY AS A BARGAINING COUNTER. WHILE THE
PREVIOUS VISITS WERE REASONABLY WELL ACCEPTED BY PUBLIC OPINION HERE,
THEIR EARLY REPETITION COULD WELL HAVE A MORE ADVERSE EFFECT.
2. A BASIC POINT, HOWEVER, WHICH MIGHT BE USED TO HELP GREY IS THE
FACT THAT ALL COMMUNIST PRISONERS HAVE HITHERTO ENJOYED THE
*PRIVILEGE' OF REGULAR MONTHLY VISITS FROM FRIENDS AND RELATIVES.
COULD WE NOT ASK, AS A MATTER OF RECIPROCITY, FOR MONTHLY NON-
OFFICIAL VISITS TO GREY, E.G. BY NON-DIPLOMATIC STAFF FROM THE
MISSION WHO ARE AMONG HIS FRIENDS? IN ASKING FOR THESE IT MIGHT BE
WORTH MAKING IT CLEAR THAT IN HONG KONG SUCH VISITS ARE GRANTED
AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS AS PRIVILEGES TO
WELL-BEHAVED PRISONERS WHO ABIDE BY PRISON REGULATIONS ON SUCH
MATTERS AS DAILY WORK (WHICH SEVERAL HUNDRED OF THE COMMUNISTS DO
NOT).
3. WITH REFERENCE TO PARAGRAPH 2 OF THE TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE,
ON THE WHOLE WE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT BETTER, IF POSSIBLE, FOR
HOPSON TO AVOID DISCUSSIONS ON THE DETAILS OF NCNA COMPLAINTS ABOUT
PRISON CONDITIONS, PRIMARILY BECAUSE THIS COULD LEAD TO AN INDEFINITE
CONTROVERSY.
4. ON OTHER POINTS, THE FOLLOWING ARGUMENTS COULD BE USED:-
(A) LETTERS: PRISONERS IN HONG KONG ARE ALLOWED TO SEND UNE LETTER
CUNNILANDIAL
/A MONTH
CONFILENZIAL
-2-
A MONTH, AND REQUESTS FOR SPECIAL LETTERS ARE NORMALLY ALLOWED. THERE
IS NO LIMIT ON INCOMING LETTERS,
(B) BOOKS: IN ADDITION TO HAVING FREE ACCESS TO THE PRISON LIBRARY,
COMMUNIST PRISONERS HERE HAVE RECEIVED BOOKS SENT TO THEM BY FRIENDS
AND RELATIVES, BUT THIS IS A MATTER ON WHICH IT WOULD BE NECESSARY
TO TREAD CAREFULLY, FOR THE CHINESE WILL CERTAINLY SEEK TO MAKE AN
ISSUE OF OUR REFUSAL TO ALLOW MAO'S THOUGHTS TO BE GIVEN TO
PRISONERS.
5. IF ALL ELSE FAILS, WE MAY HAVE TO CONSIDER A FURTHER ROUND OF
'SPECIAL' VISITS HERE. BUT WE WOULD PREFER TO EXHAUST OTHER LINES
OF APPROACH FIRST.
COMMONWEALTH OFFICE PLEASE PASS IMMEDIATE TO FERING 193.
SIR D. TRENCH
[REPLITION TO PEKING REFERRED FOR DEPARTMENTAL
DECISION 1.
Dk An ThaNTAL IN STRIBUTION
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CONFIDENTI AL
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88
m4 pm 26/4
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TELEGRAM NO. 522
RESTRICTED
25 APRIL 1958
F
אן סני
¡AR
V-> No.31
2
APR 1968
PEKING TELEGRAM 141 C GREY.
F13/8 In dexo
168
FD13/8
REUTER'S CORRESPONDENT HERE HAS BEEN ASKED BY HIS HEAD OFFICE
• FOR DETAILS OF THE SENTENCES OF POSSIBLE REMISSION PERIODS OF ALL
NEWSPAPER EMPLOYEES TO WHOM N CN A RECENTLY PAID VISITS.
HE SAYS THAT HE DOES NOT THINK THE INFORMATION IS REQUIRED FOR
PUBLICATION.
2.
I
RELEVANT DETAILS ABOUT THE TWOCNA MEN ARE IN MY TELEGRAM
136 TO PEKING. 1. YOU SEZ NO OBJECTION, PERHAPS IT WOULD BE BEST
IF YOU WOULD ARRANGE FOR THEM TO BE PASSED IN LODON TO REUTER'S
HEAD OFFICE. DETAILS OF THE OTHER DETAINEES ARE MOT IMMEDIATELY
AVAILABLE, BUT WE COULD, OF COURSE, PROVIDE THEM IF YOU THOUGHT IT
WAS NECESSARY.
MR. GA58
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PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
Telno 309
RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
IVED IN #V5&No.31
AB08
17/4
16 April 1968
FD 13/8
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 309 of 16 April. Repeated for
information to Hong Kong.
N.G.N.A. report (No. 041114 of 12 April) of visit by representatives of
N.C.N.A. Hong Kong and seven "patriotic" newspapers to the imprisoned
journalista has not so far appeared in the Chinese Press.
Foreign Office pass to Hong Kong 223.
Sir D. Hopson
[Repeated as requested]
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.