fco-21-79-uk-consideration-of-actions-to-be-taken-against-chinese-mission-and-new-china-news-agency-(ncna)-in-london — Page 10

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WO

public and reus would support us if we said

we ad had enough of this orgnisation.

would à ve no need to fer criticism that we

were interferin,, with the libert of the

pra......, for we could easily demonstr te that

what the

are utting out in t:.18

country is not f cts and fair comment, but

lion, distortion, buse and vilific: tion of

the grommest n ture,

/5.

MNĂ FIAL

NIAL

5. As you know, our policy is not to seek

any quarrel with the Chinese, or to provoke

then unduly. But developments in Hong・ ong

show that our op oments there, hving filed

in their tte it to roue the mastes ay inst

us, are now roporti to increased violence and

terrorism. This let thit in enforcing law

i

-

and order se call cl.ch with them more

stroly and pertaps more often than hitherto, T is in turn mean on post
showing, that the

Chinese will ttu t to increage their

prescure against us wherever they can,

-

whether

in Hong Kong or a inst our Mission in eking

or our ships in Chin e morts.

ports. To counter

these pressures effectively we ourselves aust

bo re dy with our cằn measures

A committee

of offici 18 of the de rt ents concerned i

wer ing on tais, posting the necessary inter-depart ental clear nces,
etc., so that any given med ure, once it is mini. teri lly aproved, can
be t into effect without

delay. The lome office h ve so far not been

involved in t.is buc u e up to now the only

/mee sure

TAL

measure we have in ind which does involve you

18 "ction in tile country again. t the b

on t we need your personal

pproval

a fore we c.no any further.

to any further. I would

emphasize that we are not askin, for the

+

immedi te ex ulsion of .N.

indeed se

ay not us.. for it at all but we think it

import. nt to ensure how that we have areo ent,

Bc that we can t ́ke quick and decisive action

at the psychological moment.

6. That could curte soon. At our request

your Depart et are w. thholding visas for two

re lac. monts for the N.M.H.A. here. oking

arɩ baking threatening noise, about the delay and hinting that they may
take action against

the Reuters corre. on et there. If they

should expel him it would mean that we had

no United Kinđell press agency corres ondent in

China, for he is the only one. I think it

would t..er. be r..cery for us,

stand up to the Unino. e at all,

expel all the five re: ining

t.1: country.

if we are to

immedi tely to

...A. men in

M.

COMPI STIAL

P

+

-

7. I ho you will ree that we should

+1

s se can ao ti.

e could the hom bly any action se hay

ecie on. If you tink a discussion would

be useful I would we nenpy to talk tuis over

with you..

TaLN)

19 July, 1967

JOAN NIAL

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SU GHE

Wi

3

8

No.

Registry F2 3/3

DRAFT

MINUTE

Type 1 +

From

Top Secret. Secret Confidentist

Un

*5/677/58.

To:-

HOME SECRETARY

SECRETARY OF STATE

Telephone No. & Ext

Department

FLAG ★ C-

Minura dancinhand by Mvate Secretary

20 JUL 1967

Possible Action against the New Chine News Agency in London

I have seen Bill Rodgers' record of his

conversation with you on 25 May about possible

retaliation against the New China News Agency

here for the outrages the Chinese have

committed against our Mission in Peking and

Shanghai. I understand that you are reluctant

to take action against the N.C.N.A.

2.

The Chinese continue their campaign of

abuse against us. With their inflammatory

propaganda they encourage violence in Rong

Kong. The increasingly firm action the Hong

Kong Government are now taking to deal with

the situation in the Colony could result at

any moment in renewed abuse and harassment of

our staff in Peking.

There are,

3. If this happens we may have to take action

against the Chinese Mission here.

however, strong reasons why we should not break

off relations with China if this can be avoided.

We could declare certain members of the Mission

here persona non grata, but I am advised that

if we did this the Chinese would certainly

retaliate in like or stronger manner and, as

we are more vulnerable than they are because

we have few Chinese speakers to post to Peking

while they have many English speakers to send

to London, our resources would run out long

before theirs.

14. There

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

ܛܐ

There is, however, a good case for taking

action against the N.C.N.A. in London. It is

not at all a press agency in our sense of the

term but the propaganda department of the

Chinese Government.

I feel sure that the

1

public and press would support us if we said we

had had enough of this organisation.

We

would have no need to fear criticism that we

were interfering with the liberty of the press,

for we could easily demonstrate that what the

N.C.N.A. are putting out in this country is

not facts and fair comment, but lies, distortion,

abuse and vilification of the grossest nature.

5. As you know, our policy is not to seek

any quarrel with the Chinese, or to provoke

them unduly. But developments in Hong Kong

show that our opponents there, having failed

in their attempt to rouse the masses against

us, are now resorting to increased violence

and terrorism. This means that in enforcing

law and order we shall clash with them more

strongly and perhaps more often than hitherto.

This in turn means, on past showing, that the

Chinese will attempt to increase their pressure

against us wherever they can, whether in Hong

Kong or against our Mission in Peking or our

ships in Chinese ports. To counter these

pressures effectively we ourselves must be

A ready with our own measures. The committee

of officials of the departments concerned 18

working on this, getting the necessary inter-

departmental clearances, etc., so that any

|given measure, once it is ministerially

approved, can be put into effect without delay.

The Home Office have so far not been involved

/in

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

in this because up to now the only measure

we have in mind which does involve you is

action in this country against the N.C.N.A.,

and on this we need your personal approval

before we can go any further. I would

emphasise that we are not asking for the

immediate expulsion of N.C.N.A. indeed we

-

-

but we think it

may not ask for it at all

important to ensure now that we have agreement,

so that we can take quick and decisive action

at the psychological moment.

6. That could come soon. At our request

your department are withholding visas for

two replacements for the N.C.N.A. here.

Peking are making threatening noises about

the delay and hinting that they may take

action against the Reuters correspondent

there. If they should expel him it would

mean that we had no United Kingdom prese

agency correspondent in China, for he is the

only one. I think it would then be

necessary for us, if we are to stand up to

the Chinese at all, immediately to expel all

the five remaining N.C.N.A. men in this country.

7. I hope you will agree that we should

clear our lines as much as we can so that we

could take promptly any action we may decide

on. If you think a discussion would be

useful I would be happy to talk this over

with you.

19/7

FLAG A

Mr. Rodgers

CONFIDENTIAL

-

COVERING SECRET

Ayak. 18161 Прав

RECEIVED IN FARCHIVES No.31

31 JUL 1967

FC3/20

1-1917

1917

Possible Action against the New China

Nowa Agency in London

On 28 June I submitted talking points which the

95

Secretary of State might wish to use in discussion with Mr.

Jenkins aimed at getting his agreement in principle to the

expulsion of the New China News Agency in London if it became

expedient to do this. Because of the pressure of other

business, it has so far not been possible to arrange a meeting

between the Secretary of State and Mr. Jenkins.

2. On your instructions we have therefore prepared a letter

which the Secretary of State might wish to send to the Home

Secretary. This is attached immediately below.

3. As you know, with the approval of Sir Saville Garner and

Sir Paul Gore-Booth a committee of officials at Under-Secretary

level has been set up to work out interdepartmental positions

so that, if we are required at short notice to take retaliatory

action against the Chinese for their own activities against

us either in Hong Kong or in China this can be done without

delay. One of the points at issue is the expulsion of the

New China News Agency in this country.

No ministerial

decision has yet been taken to do this nor have we yet

recommended such a course to Ministers.

But we think that

the ground should be prepared so that if it becomes necessary

to take action we can do so at the moment when it will have

the most impact.

This means having a decision ready to put

CONFIDENTIAL

/into

CONFIDENTIAL

2

Над в

into effect, given ministerial sanction, without the delay

that interdepartmental consultation necessarily involves.

In the particular case of the N.C.N.A. we cannot get any

further with the Home Office until the Home Secretary himself

has given general approval in principle for the expulsion of

N.C.N.A. if the appropriate moment comes.

4. The object of this approach to Mr. Jenkins is therefore

to clear the decks. The Permanent Under-Secretary, yourself

and the Secretary of State have all agreed that we should be

so prepared.

Private Rafectary

Af. de la kan.

(A.J. de la Mare) 14 July, 1967

CONFIDENTIAL

FJ (2029)

|

¦

Kr. Repson

Reference. FC 22/4RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES No.31

CONFIDENTIAL

Depart

Passport Control Department

Mr. Nalled)

1 2 JUL 1967

Festp

Peking telegram No.84 /: Exit Vises for

the Chinese in Britain

I think this suggestion is a useful one from every point of view. Not
only would it be useful to have a further possible means of retaliation
against Chinese diplomate and officials in return for anything they may
do to our people in Peking, but we may at some point need to retaliate
against the Chinese if, for instance, they held British seamen in China.

2. The only problem is how to proceed. From the political point of view
I can see no objection to discriminating against the Chinese and a
ruling that they alone out of foreign diplomats and officials in Britain
must have exit visas before leaving the

country. I imagine that we would need to consult the Home Office before
making such a rule and lay on some machinery with the Security Services
to ensure that it is observed. I should be grateful for the comments of
P.C.D. on this.

3. When we have had a chance, to clear our own minds I think it would be
a good idek to call a meeting of Far Eastern Department, Passport
Control Department, the Home Office and the Security Services.

(D.C. Wils

11 July 1967

!

б

Sinh

agree with the Wilson. I understand from Nortman Department that no
alfangement exists for oral

comotio

lm

home whose Maths are

Communior

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normal l'yju usno valid for

кури

nummer of Jouinung

T

Jom Juven

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до

Vớ

peso.

173

Ed (1627)

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

CONFIDENTIAL

Minutes

Reff F 22/4 wh

The Aliens Order provides that no foreigner may leave the UK without the
permission of an immigration office

"M.DC. Wilson practice nothing is done to impede the

For Eastern Spr..

departure of a foreigner and the

In

formality is simply that of completing an Embarkation card so that there
is an official record. Exceptione to this practice are rare and are
normally confined to criminal and ward of court cases, but we would see
little practical difficulty in bringing Chinese diplomata and officials
into the net,given Home Office co-operation.

2. Members of the staff of the Chinese Chargé's office are statutorily
exempt from most of the provisions of the Aliene Order but are still
required to comply with identification procedures on arrival and
departure, and are subject to the entry visa requirement. We see no
reason, therefore, why an exit visa should not be introduced.

3.

To enforce such a procedure should not in our view be difficult because
of the small number of persons involved and the fact that they are
easily identifiable by their passports. Immigration Officers already
have clear instructions to ensure that they report carefully the
departure of Chinese diplomats and officials.

4. The exit visa could be simply a rubber stamp in the passport or on
the embarkation card

Seen at the Foreign Office

Date

The stamp to be imposed by the Foreign Nationals Department of the
Passport Office (who issue re-entry visas) after consultation with Far
Eastern Department. There might be some advantage in putting the stamp
on the embarkation card rather than in the passport as this would
provide a surer means of checking that someone had not slipped away
without an exit visa.

5. If, as appears to Chinese stipulate the

be the case, the point of departure, we could do the same thus making
movements easier to control. (In 1952 the Russiana stipulated on their
exit visas for

Chinese precisely where they should crose the frontier).

16. Presumably..

Minutes

6. Presumably the proposed exit visa requirement would apply to all
Chinese citizens resident in the UK, i.e. Bank of China, NCNA etc, as
well as members of the Chargé d'Affaires' office.

LA Mikin

(L.H.Mitchell) 12 July, 1967

Good. I have culo spoken of the Security Sencei

مراس

he

difficulty check

bou: Keeping

the system.

21 think

Hors

höld

a

we

should

meeting

with Je.D. (and the Secwily Sevicei

und

Hime Ettice it uncensory I have prepared a dratu

for his.

siebeession

15/i

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Mr. Denson

CONFIDENTIAL

Reference.

Mr. Bolland

EXIT VISAS FOR CHINESE

We have run into a major problem in trying to impose a aystem of exit
visas for Chinese in Britain.

2. The Home Office have told us that they are not at present empowered
to institute a system of exit permits for foreign nationals. The only
possibility open to them at the moment is to refuse leave to embark
under the Aliens Order from which those with diplomatic immunity are in
any case exempt. To impose

a system of exit permits would require a new Order in Council. The
problem was apparently discussed in 1951 (FC 1623/32) I am asking
Library reference for these papers.

3. I think there is a strong case for going ahead and trying to arrange
for a new Order in Council, which would enable us to take action against
all hol- ders of Chinese passports coming to Britain. The Home Office
have implied that they would probably oppose such a move. To do so will
of course require a Ministerial decision probably in the form of a
Minute from the Secretary of State to the Home Secretary.

11

If it is agreed that we shall do this I shall go ahead and prepare a
draft sfibmission.

سیادت ہے

(D. C. Wilson)

18 Fulỹ, 1967.

Copy to:

Mr. Hallett (Passport Control Department)

9

адеми

We shouw seek the

neussum powers.

/we.

Ju Tensu

We do

CONFIDENTIAL

167

1

L

We do not have the papere

Peter

Ow

ang

I have oblamed cerpen from

bur

The Home Office (altached). They

tell us

little except

that the

Home Splice dislike the idea of a system of exit visas. 2 I have ales
spoken o

д

Thin Coaler of the Home Slice who confirmed that the Home would be
likely

ह्वे

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opper se

grounder of

бассе

the idea

on grounde

pricciple and

adminstrative

inconvenience. I have told her that despite this, we are anxioin &

we wri

that we

proceed and that

probably

be writing of Themisore

level.

|

Ralvii

Ed (1626)

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN.

a

Ма. Важный

m

д

Im

Confidential

Minutes,

Exir Visas for Chinese

United Kingdom

I agree mat we should have

meeting with other interested Departments as proposed in Mr. Wilson's
muite of 13 July at which the Draft's would form the basis for
ɣisenssion. Before we procew to this stage, you may wish to discuss with
Mr. de la Mate in

case he has any objection in principle of wight to submmi the

matter higher in my office befor

тани

other Departma

munth are brought in.

Jon Dunsonan

13/

Confidential

la

of deler for

Minutes.

I agree. I staine

we should

first discuss with the Home Offic

Isecure this

then submit.

agreement

We will

I'm

Mr. De la Mare has agrew is

loow you please I'm

a meeting.

hom

and act ange one

at 10.30am

Tuestem 18 dim lima. Bonan's

formy at which P.C.D., Home Odia and me Semnity Semin wari be represuri.

John Densm 1A)

Mr. Witam Fwolker

14

7

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN.

C

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

(OSLO) "PA

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DRAFT

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