2G FEB 1968
FD13/8
PRIORITY COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG
TELNO 324. 23 FEBRUARY, 1968 (F & HKD)
CONFIDENTIAL,
ADDRESSED TO HONGKONG TELEGRAM NO 324 OF 23/2 REPEATED FOR
INFORMATION TO PEKING.
14
MY IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING. TELEGRAM:
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 KEEN TRYING
TO SEE HOW SOME PROGRESS COULD BE MADE OVER THE
UESTION OF VISITS TO IMPRISONED N CNA AND OTHER JOURNALISTS. ALL THESE
PRISONERS HAVE OF COURSE BEEN RECEIVING REGULAR VISITS
UT, 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.
(a)
IF ASKED, HOPSON SHOULD ALSO SAY THAT THE QUESTION OF VISITS HY N CN A
TO NON-NC NA 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 LMPLOYERS 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 GEE THE TWO AS
CONNECTED.)
THE HANDLING OF THE APPROACH TO N CNA IN HONG KONG WOULD DEPEND ON
WHETHER IT IS POSSIBLE TO ENGAGE IN A TWO-WAY
CONFIDENTIAL
/DISCUSSION
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برية
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 NCNA 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 UNNING ON WHETHER THEY WOULD
BE ALLOWED TO REPRESENT NON-AVAILABLE EMPLOYERS. IF, HOWEVER, IT IS ONLY
POSSIBLE TO PASS MESSAGES TO N CNA, THEN PRESUMABLY IT WILL BE
NC 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
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
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C.O.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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CYPHER/CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
PRIORITY COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG
TEINO 323
23 FEBRUARY, 1968 (HWB AND F)
CONFIDENTIAL.
74
TE
IVES No.31
26 FEB 1968
F013/8
ADDRESSED TO HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO 323 OF 23/2 REPEATED FOR INFORMATION
TO PEKING,
70
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.
जान
8. 1 UNDERSTAND AND SHARE YOUR CONCERN LEST N CN A SHOULD ESTABLISH
ITSELF IN A QUASI-CONSULAR ROLE WITH A RIGHT OF ACCESS 10 SROAD
CATEGORIES OF PRISONERS OF CHINESE RACE, BUT I KOPL 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 THES FRUNT. THE SUGGESTION IN PARAGRAPH
3(C) OF PEKING TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE SEEMS A GOOD WAY OF DOING THIS.
3.
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 EV INSISTING ON THIS.
I AM GRATEFUL THEREFORE THAT YOU ARE PREPARED TO INCLUDE NCNA IN SUCH
VISITS IN SOME FORM, I THINK DIAT 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 NCNA AND, IN ADDITION, THAT VISITS BY N CNA 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
/MINUTES
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CONFIDENTIAL
0.0. TELEGRAM NO. 323 TO HONG KONG
2.
MINUTES PER VISIT SINCE WE WOULD NOT WISH THE CHINESE TO
INSIST THAT VISITS TO 177" SHOULD BE LIMITED TO SUCH A SHORT PERIOD.
MIGHT BE CASIER TO DEAL WITH THIS IF VISITS ARE MADE IN A
+
SPECIAL ROOM AS SUGGESTED IN PARAGRAPH 7(8) OF YOUR TELEGRAM,
གྷ I DO NOT THINK THAT THERE IS MUCH TO BE GAINED BY ASKING THE CHINESE
TO DEFINE THEIR MEANING OF QUOTE FORMAL UNQUOTE VISIT,
THE COVIRARY 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 CUOTE SPECIAL VISITS
UNQUOTE TO EMPHASISE THEIR EXCEPTIONAL NATURE AND MINIMISE THE RIGHT OF
THOSE CONCERNED TO MAKE THEN.
G'u
b.
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 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 ENCOURAGI CHINESE HOPES THAT WE CAN STILL BE PUSKED INTO
MAKING SUBSTANTIAL CONCESSIONS THERF.
•
7. DETAILED SUGGESTIONS ON HOW THIS EXERCISE SHOULD BE HANDLED WITH THE
CHINESE ARE CONTAINED IN MY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING TELEGRA
CROSEC
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
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22 FEB 1968
8913/8
تفا
PRISON VISTAS IN HONG KONG
дали
its Thurray, Эра!
73
22
The Secretary of State has drawn attention to Sir Donald
70) Hopson's telegram No. 133 about prison visits in Hong Kong,
in the context of visits to Mr. Grey in Peking.
I attach &
72) copy of a minute prepared for Mr. Rodgers, explaining the
point at issue between Sir D. Hopson and the Hong Kong
Government.
2. I recommend that when the Secretary of State sees the deputation from
the Council or the National Union of Journalisto later today, he does
not refer to these discussions with the
Chinese about visits.
The Hong Kong Department of the
But the
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✡
Commonwealth Office and ourselves are about to submit a recommendation
that action should now be taken in Peking and Hong Kong along the lines
of Sir D. ñopson's advice. price we are being asked to pay for visits to
Mr. Grey significant step towards quasi-consular status for the New
China News Agency in respect of persons who may in some GeRANS
is high and be Hong Kong, as distinct from Chinese, citizens the
decision not easy. What we (and the National Union of Journalists) want
is not so much visite to Mr. Grey as his
release.
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3. A different point. Kr. Rodgers has suggested that in the Secretary of
State's brief for the meeting an addition Le rade to the first talking
point on the following lines:
/At
1
CERTIDEBITDA 1.
#
CONFIDENA TAL
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2
At Christmas, however, he sent telegrams to his
mother, a friend and Reuters. The friend received a
further telegram about a fortnight ago in which he said
that he was receiving her letters and telegrama.
James
Hunay
(James Murray)
21 February, 1968
Condes to:
Mr. Wilkinson
Kr. Samuel
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ARCHIVES NË 31
A
22 FEB 1968
ED1378
(3
PRISON VISITS IN HONG KONG
The Chinese have been using our wish to have consular
access to Kr. Grey in Feking as a means of obtaining wide
rights for New China News Agency (and other communist organisationa) to
make special prison visits, not merely to members of K.C.N.A. but also
to other communist journalists
and members of other cortunist organisations. Prisoners are already
visited once a month by relatives and frienda. special visits would
simply be made into propaganda demon- etrations. Hong Kong telegram no.
1908 of 23 December
described the relevant prieol rule as follows:
The
"No persone other than relations and friends shall be allowed to visit
prieoners except by special authority;
visits may be made once a month, but extra visita can be
approved. Although there is no rule to this effect,
thore is a standing order that requests for an extra
visit muat originate with the prisoner."
2. On 31 December Sir D. Bopson informed the Chinese accordingly.
Presumably because their objective is to establish a quasi-consular
status for N.C.N.A..., the Chinesa Government said that they could not
agree that the prisoners must themselves make requests for visita
(Peking telegrm No. 1).
/However, Hong Kong telegram No. 212 of 19 February put the
position differántly:
"Extra visits to individual prisoners can be approved
for reasonable cause at the prisoner's request. Again,
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CONFIDENTIAL
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3.
anybody wanting to see a prisoner for any special
reasons is of course free to ask to visit him;
the reasons are compelling, the visit can be allowed
again subject to the prisoner's agreement. A
particularly relevant exemple is that an employer is
usually granted one visit to an employee."
The burden of Sir D. Hopson's complaint in paragraph 2
of Peking talegram No. 133 is that the Hong Kong authorities
should have indicated from the outset that if the employers
of the Communist journalists were to request a meeting, they
would usually be granted one visit.
4. That some at any rate of the employers are themselves
in prison may help to explain why the Hong Kong authorities failed to
bring to notice the possibility of employer/visita
in the case of communist journalists.
5. If there has been any failure of co-ordination in this
case it has probably been between the Colonial Secretariat
of the Hong Kong Government and the Frison Services. The
latter ara no doubt in normal cases a law unto themcolves,
and failed in this particular instance to appreciate the
political importance of all the issues involved. (In normal
circumstances, the distinction between a visit for which a
prisoner asko, and a visit requested by a friend and to which
the prisoner agrees, cannot be very rigid; presumably very
informal action by the prison authorities could transform the second
ostegory into the first."
[
CONFIDENTIAL
(James Furray) 21 February, 1968
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{ RECEIVED IN 7 JARCHIVES No 3! 22 FEB 1968
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in dept Copy Also on FC 13/8/1CH
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NOWA DAL:
Hong Kong and Router's Coumesnordent in Belting
10. 7.67
11. 7.57
12. 7.67
12. 7.67
moking
KOHA journalist nisemi FMG arrested in Hong Kong-
demand
Chançó d'Affaires gumored to bear Chinese Government'o pidest on arrest
of usual and/int he should be relbased, an apology nado, and that the
safety cul fretion of Bok nombong in Hong Korg should be guaranteed.
H.3. Chargé rejected proteat but promised to report it.
The Bconleto Delly carried an article deperibing YUJINIS CERCst" aral
quoted a protest telegman from ECIA, demanding liSuby's release.
istal charged in court with "unlawful assembly and forming an
intimidating assembly".
13. 7.67
Bore Hone
KUKA
in apployees demonstrate outside Beltích
Winsion
in Teking and hand in protest (further demonstrations on subsequent
days).
15. 7.57
10. 7.57
20. 7.57
AWO MOTO (NOKIA reporters
CHAN FUNG-YING and both female) arrested in damonstro- tion outsido
Government House.
CITAT DAK-EUK
-
HSVMI sentenced to two years inpricorment.
CHAN TUNG-YING and CHAN SAK-MUK remanded until 1. 8.67.
"ITEMUURIAL
P
r
CONTIENENATAL
Feking
20. 7.67
Peonle's Daily reported 2-year sentence on liŠUpd and dolare" rolcase,
couponsation, guarantee of no recurrence and punishment of "thuga".
Beling
21. 7.67
31. 7.67
Grey called to Chinese H.F.A., 2008 a statement on perjocution of
Chinese journalisto in Hong Kong. His visa vas withdrawn, and he was put
undon house autost.
H.X. Changé in Teking suggested F.0. "urgently consider any retaliatory
action against RCIA în London".
Jozion
21. 7.67
21. 7.67
Hoat Long
21. 7.67
NOVEN
0.0. toleran suggests that deportation of NJUNI might help to secure
Grey's release.
Brian Houghton, Deputy Hanager of Router's, arcod that the F.0, could
make a protest to Faking about Gray's treatment as a British subject,
rather than on behalf of Router, but urged that no action should be
taken against NICHĂ in London.
Hong Kong Government agrees that it wonli ba legally possible to realit
sentence and dopert 1GURE.
Poking
22. 7.67
22. 7.57
1.1. Chargé cent rote of Protest to Chinoso. No anoven to a request for
consuler aocosa.
Poonlola Jally described decision to put Grey under Bowo arcat da "a
senious vaming to British imperialium",
Hear Kons
24. 7.67
mena syyllod for permission to visit HSUEH and other two Hoîth
Hournalisto, Allowed one visit a month prisonera under sentence and two
a week to tho00 on rozand.
COMMUNTIAT
/06. 7.57
H
1.
I
CONSILISTAL
26. 7.67
22. 7.67
FONA, when informed of prison viciting regulations, sold they wore not
talking of routine visito, lut wore making an official request.
5 noro jounalists arested including WUO YU-10, an NISKA employee.
23. 7.57
Chineso 7.0. reply for consular access to Gray claimed that sinco no
arrangements had been made for formal visit by ECHA in Hong Kong to the
three prisonero, no access to Grey could be granted.
3201
31. 7.67
Hong Kong Government would agree to one visit by KeKĀ representative to
each of the four arsented Horta, journalists in return for cormules
access to Gray.
Bellar
2. 5.67
1.H. Chargć informed fiews Department of Chinese H... that special
visits would be allowed to ECHA journalista sã soon as consular accons
to Greg Frosted.
Hone Kors
9. 0.67
Maroc communiat novapapers closed and song of their staff arrested.
13, 5-67
18. 2.67
20. 3.67
Demonstrators allegedly broke into tzey's house.
Grey'n tolophore cut off, and number of British Mission staff refused
entry to hic house,
Chinese 11.7.A. soid that aftuntien had changed since British offer on
exchange of visits, and that further measures would be tokan agalast
Gray if re did not change our attitudo.
/20. 3.67
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20. 6.67
22. 0.67
H.H. Chargó unged F.0, to exert Baeyero pecsmuna" ul. HOMA An Landon and
to waw them that thola operations would be cuspended if anything voze
done to Onay N the Deitish illosion,
Deitish Mission in Toking burnt.
Home Tene
12.9.67
13.8.67
14. 9.67
Ho visited in prizon by his wife (on nowıxıl nonthly visit) and two UCHA
anployees.
Humi olaised that Heumi 21150 had been beaten uy in paioas
EC YC-10 contenced to three years ingrånekomt.
12. 9.67
Report that Crey atill in his house, and that his dalvas detained ca iar
acent.
די
Borden
22. 4.67
+
30. 2.57
14.10.07
King Chizlay Hobuian, Ir. Gway'a şiri fal 11, succosted on eppoal to
Chou Ex-lai or en opplåentio.. for bonaclf to visit China,
(by not replying to telephone call)
Congater Derartment of Chinese Foreign Ministry fell to mont accoss to
Grey when indowed of KA visit in Hong Kong, H., Chargé requsetel that
such vizita to HBURI D'ING would not now do rea tik
H.li. Chargé asha 2.0, to "aunre that WCNA prłożona enjoy no solace that
is denied to Grey" 0.1% by restricting their visite. Fezoien Cffice 274
Hong Kong dooided that this mould act be done.
12.10.47
Red Curd newspaper referred to Grey as "epię5"
22.10.67
fologram to 0.0. suggested that Pakistanio bal 1 reasonably helpful
about Croy, but did not want to cot too Livolved.
2
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Jonton
3.11.67
11.11.67
25.11.57
25.11.67
27.41.67
CONFIRMERKI AT
Karcus Japton H.F. requested information on Greg.
A Router's ro;resentative (Fr. Chipp) visited Pakistan to mrcas Foreign
Ministry to work for Gray'a release. He also mrrargod a nocting with
Don't of chica, Hong Kong.
Bank of China cancelled intervies with Router's
the
zopresentativc.( becauer of liked action belas)
Co simist press proteated against libol judgment against wEW VIE RAG and
SA XUEG-PAC,
WA
Chizeco Forei ̧n Kinistoy said that nocoso to Gy could not be granted
until NCHA pericolors reccív.1 official Fenä visits in Hong KonĖ.
Chainað not to have received report of ÉCHA visits alreedy rale to HSUCH
FIG.
Here Long
5.12.67
NICHA protest against deliberate detonation of auspcoted bomba poor
their premises.
30.12.67
Anthony Royle H.P. asked 2.0. on Grey,
Hone Kons
22.12.67
KONA zomest permission to sond two ro:rosentatives, to visit McKA
reporters and those of other colaminist newspapers around New Your, and
to
deliver clothing and foodstuffs. Communist schools,
trade concerns, trade rings etc. wentel stailar arrangɑzents to be nado.
Hong Kong Government reluctant to cerce.
Tel Ana
F
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39.12.67
1.1. Chargé expressed hope that Hong Kong Gover would aller visita plus
food and alothing to prizozowa, without imulating that prisonera vle
request sie it.
Pirst-
Router's and Gray's mother and girl friend, recnivad cables from Gray.
24. 12,67
54.12.67
31.12.67
1. 1.00
6.1.53
Hong Kong Govanment agreed that deportation of HOUÊT D'ING (plus perhaps
LO TU-IN) in esolangs for Grey would be feasible.
Hong Kong Government insist on need to evofA discriminatior in favour of
left-wing peluonamang Suggested that mattor be taken up with Chinese T
747-
requal
or our reques
Hett. Chargé reccivod at\chineso H.F.A. Grinaco zoferrod to neka
mennest)of 22 December, and claimed that no reply had been received, azı
aztert why British had now raiced iosus cf prisoners making applioetions
for visits themselves. request more prented, Ciinojo "might conuiden
alieving baitish office to send personnel to viais Gray. In reply to
suggestion (on a poze m? banin) that ROUER P'IIG could be exchanged for
Gray Chinone said it was unlikely that this smile ba accepted. The
problem oculă not to cattici no ccaily.
E. Coman correspondent told by Chinose that Gray's conditions of
confinement had recently bean inproved.
chargé
Hi... Chazzć suggested that a substantial set of alchosey In respect of
misoners tisod for Chineza Hew Year should be considered.
7.1. 03
Sunden då 100 published article on Gray.
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15. 1.33
15. 1.63
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MP. 1.63
H.M. Chargé proposed that action against MORA London altulê be limited
to residence paznits (1. genting pornits of 3 months only).
Cradoch Totter fron
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