NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry No..
DEPARTMENT
* Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
PRIORITY MARKINGS
(Date)
pespotted
5
Top Secret
Confidential
-hererbsed Lineinssita
Emergency! Towmediate Porty- Routine
En Clair Code Cypher
Draft Telegram jo:-- Hong Kong
XX
14.7
No.
(Date)
Andeg
[Security classification
any
[Codeword-if any) ..
reach addressee(s)
H
CONFIDENTIAL
II. I
PI.
Hett
ढ
2.143.
R
لالأذن
15 1920Z
Addressed
i
HONG KONG
telegram No.....
47
15/1.
||-||-||
dad Jav
Kerline
PEKING
repeated for information to
Saving To
|||IMII'
Repeat to:-
Peking
Saving to:-
Distribution:
·E. De pr HK Dept & News Depr
Copies to:--
Mihrille
TULE
1.
Your Fel N° 29
For Governor from Sir L. Monson
CO.FRONTATION PRISONERS,
We are as mystified as you are as to the
source of these stories. We can assure you that
nobody in the PCO concerned with this question has
been in touch either with A.F.P. or with representa-
tives of The People.
2.
The A.F.P. article which we have seen was
datelined London on 7 January. This predates the
Secretary of State's telegram No. 24 and on that
date we did not even know whether he agreed with
the draft of it. Your own telegram No. 13 reached
London on a Saturday and was not seen by any member
of the ofiice directly concerned until Monday,
11 January, so again we cannot see how its content
could have leaked at this end in such a way as to
be used in an article on 10 January.
3.
You may have seen the article which appeared
in the Financial Times on 23 December soon after
Johnson's impending release was known which
speculated on the possibility that the Chinese
(and even mentioned Chrison Nos Yours would expect movement on
confrontation prisoners
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
ميله
There
ward similar comment in the Timers that day We are inclined to think
that members of the press who are
CALZ
interested in this subject have taken their e from there.
Certainly I can repeat my assurance that there has been no
briefing of the press of a kind which could have given rise to
either the A.F.P. or The People story.
4. The FCO News Department havenot had any questions about the
article which appeared in The People and I can only hope that
these stories will die naturally.
you took and will
will
We
the line which if we have to say any Hring
marides, but
is "quite untrue."
र
Bay
the story of a
15
ри
لد
CONFIDENTIAL
J
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
CYPHER CAT A
SECRET
હ
TOP COPY
+
L
FROM HONG KONG 151200Z
SECRET
TO FLASH FICIO TELEGRAM NUMBER. 29 OF 15 JANUARY 1971 PRIORITY INFO
PEKING
YOUR TEL 37 CONFRONTATION PRISONERS
PERSONAL FOR MONSON FROM GOVERNOR
NEWS ITEM APPEARING PRESUMABLY IN LAST SUNDAYS EDITION OF THE PEOPLE''
(U.K.) HEADED ** SIR ALEC IN CLASH '' HAS BEEN
REPRODUCED HERE TODAY OVER SCARE HEADLINES E.G. ''GOVERNOR AND SIR ALEC
IN ROW OVER REDS **SEMICOLON ''LONDON REPORTS ON THE BATTLE OF THE
KNIGHTS'' ETC.. WE ARE RECEIVING A NUMBER OF URGENT PRESS ENQUIRIES
ABOUT THIS REPORT AND THESE HAVE TO BE ANSWERED PROMTLY IF THE STORY IS
NOT TO GAIN CURRENCY AND CREDENCE.
2. I HAVE THEREFORE AUTHORISED G.1.S. TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT
**THERE IS NO CHANGE IN THE PRESENT POLICY REGARDING THE RELEASE OF
PRISONERS SERVING SENTENCES FOR OFFENCES COMMITTED DURING. THE 1967
DISTURBANCES WHICH REMAINS AS HAS BEEN EXPLAINED BEFORE ON SEVERAL
OCCASIONS THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS BEEN KEPT FULLY
}
INFORMED THOUGHOUT AND REGULAR EXCHANGES OF VIEWS HAVE NATURALLY TAKEN
PLACE OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS. BEYOND THIS
BEYOND THIS, THE NEWSPAPER STORY OF A ''ROW'' IS A GROSS DISTORTION''.
3. YOU WILL OF COURSE HAVE REALISED THAT THIS PUBLICITY,
COUPLED WITH PRESS REPORTS OF AMNESTIES'' ETC., MAKES IT
I k
DOUBLY DIFFICULT TO MEET OUR DESIRE TO MAKE PROGRESS IN THE MATTER,
AND MAY PUT THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF REVIEW, WHO MUST FEEL
RESPONSIV
IN A POSITION, WHICH WILL
MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO BE HELPFUL.
MECRES
/ L. KOST
+
SECRED
!
4.
. MOST GRATEFUL FOR ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO FIND AND PLUG THE SOURCE OF
THESE LEAKS AS THEY ARE MAKING IT MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT FOR ME TO
ACHIEVE WHAT WE BOTH WANT.
SIR D.TRENCH
NNNN
-
:
VILES:
FED
IND
KEJS DEPT
PS
PS/IR. ROYLE
SIR L. NOM,JON MR. JILFO.D
SER . TOMEIN KON
GECREA
COFY TO
UND. (u).
IL
י
1
1
P
1
L
→
I
!
L
PRIORITY
**CYPHER/CAT A
CCIFIDENTIAL
+
(FE)
F.
C O 131755Z
+
CONFIDENTIAL
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TELNO 37 OF 13 JANUARY AND TO PRIORITY
PEKING (PERSONAL FOR DENSON).
(c)
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM MONSON.
1. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TELEGRAMS HOS.13 AND 17 AND FOR THIS MOST
HELPFUL SUMMARY OF YOU VIEWS,
2. BEFORE SUBMITTING TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE, WHO IS, AS YOU
KNOW, IN SINGAPORE, WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR AMPLIFICATION OF
PARAGRAPH 6 OF YOUR TELEGRAM NO.13. OF THE 27 WHOSE SENTENCES
MAY HAVE CONTAINED AN EXCESSIVELY EXEMPLARY ELEMENT HOW MAY ARE
AMONG THE 27 DUE FOR RELEASE WITH NORAML REMISSION BY THE MIDDLE
OF THIS YEAR? COULD YOU ALSO LET ME KNOW HOW MANY OF THOSE
COVERED BY BOTH THESE CATEGORIES WOULD BE AMONG THOSE LISTED
IN THE 41 NAMES ON THE PETITION MENTIONED IN PARAGRAPH 5 OF YOUR
TELEGRAM NO.17. INCIDENTALLY ARE WE CORRECT IN BELIEVING THAT ALL
THE WOMEN CONFRONTATION PRISONERS ARE LISTED AMONG THE 41?
I SHOULD ALSO BE GRATEFUL TO KNOW WHAT SORT OF TINING WOULD BE
PRACTICABLE FOR CONSIDERATION OF THOSE IN THE EXEMPLARY CATEGORY,
3. COULD YOU ALSO LET ME HAVE THE TEXT OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT YOU
ISSUED TO WHICH YOU REFER IN PARAGRAPH 4 OF YOUR TELEGRAM NO.13
IN CASE WE TOO GET ANY QUESTIONS.
L
DOUGLAS-HOME
FILES
FED
HG NGH
PRIVJE SECR MARY PS TO HR ROYLE
SIR L MONGON
IR WILFORD
SIR S TOMLINSON
COPIES TO
UND (4 COPIES)
가
17/
CONFIDENSKAN
Registry No.
FED
DEPARTMENT
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
JAIM
Top Secret 12/1
Confidential
Unclassified
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
En Glair. Colo Cypher
Draft Telegrand to:- HONG KONG
No.
27
(Date) 13/1 And to:/
X Peking
• Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should
reach addressee(s).
141
PRIORITY MARKINGS
(Date)
Despatched
-To featu+++++++▬▬▬‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒¬
0910
CYPHER
[Security_ if any
Security classification" classification]
[
Privacy marking ]
-if any
[Codeword-if any]
Addressed to
telegram No...
And to
- pa
...(date)
CONFIDENTIAL
Priority
HỤNG KONG (Immediate).
FEKING (Priority) (Personal for → Denson)
---------------------|
repeated for information to
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Repeat to:-
Saving to:-
Incerentally
wre correct in believing
hair all the with em
confrontation prism
aman ang
listed am
41?
DESPEDITION:
Files
FED
HKD
the
Sir S Tomlinson
Sir L.Monson
Mr Wilford
Miss Deas
Quplzonce- Private Office
Saving to.....
Personal for Governor from Monson.
Thank
Summały
1. We are grateful to you for your telegrams Nos 13 & 17.
and for most helpf
ok if your videos,
2.
Before submitting to the Secretary of State, who
is,as you know, in Singapore, we should be grateful
for amplification of paragraph 6 of your telegram No 13.
Of the 20 whose sentences may have contained an
excessively exemplary element how many are among the 27 due for release
with normal remission by the middle
of this year? Could you also let me know how many of
those covered by both these categories would be among
those listed in the 41 names on the petition mentioned
in paragraph 5 of your telegram No 17. I should also
17.7
be grateful to know what sort of timing would be
practicable for consideration of those in the exemplary
category.
3.
Could you also let me have the text of the
announcement you issued to which you refer in paragraph 4 of your
telegram No 13, in case we too get any
questions.
CONFIDENTIAL 13/
131755/2
7097
73 1311.
CONFIDENTIAL
172
O
Mr.
geleora
xxford
ford
Sir S Tomingon w
Sir L Mobson wows
Miss Dgas Gel Denati and
Deppetit
enter ap.a.
SM
ایی
19.1
CONFRONTATION PRISONERS IN HONG KONG
A and B 1.
A draft reply to Hong Kong telegrams Nos 13 and 17
is submitted, after discussion with Mr Wilford and Mr Laird.
2.
The background is set out in my submission of
31 December.
12 January 1971
SALMurgen
J A L Morgan
Far Eastern Department
Заднетик м
I agrees with M. Morgan a5M
haurd that we should be wise
out these details before
Copy to:
Hong Kong Department (Mr Laird)
the
Private Office
CONFIDENTIAL
major beak if
issue
to sext
we revert the
I think it work the
the Fel went form Six L. Mantra
丽
Kun hiffo
nfs tomlinson 131; ibli
вить
Mah Jan 19/1
Mr.
Wixford
CONFIDENTIAL
Hong Kong
145 (c)
3
The Secretary of State has commented as follows on Hong Kong telegram
number 13 to the FCO:
2.
The
"I do not see how we can go against this advice. Governor's analysis of
Chinese reasoning is probably right."
If you wish to go back to the Secretary of State in due course about
this while he is still in Singapore, it might be best to let me have a
draft telegram to Mr. Graham in the form of a brief submission.
عمل مستند
(N. J. Barrington) 12 January, 1971.
Copy to:
PS/Mr. Royle
Sir Leslie Monson Mr. Morgan (FED)
Mr. Laird (Hong Kong Dept.)
Milano En 1411
This need not prevent
pursuing the interrogating
which you as FED
Коледна
howe
and what is now
agreed
wat Sir L. Mman.
M.Magan
CONFIDENTIAL
بیدی
14.1
13
MW"%
N
embent
pla
گوشو
SUNDAY EXPRESS
Cutting dated
ПO JAN 1971
Amnesty
plan
... +
19
angers Colony
Sunday Express Reporter HONG KONG: News- papers here have launched a
campaign to block any attempt by Britain to secure ап amnesty for
Communist . prisoners held since the rlots of June 1987.
The British-owned China Mall and South China Morning Post in editorials
yesterday expressed concern over the prospect.
There follow
Agence
Prance Presse report fron London clemlag that BELDERLY Kould be declared
within a few days.
A spokesman for the Goverty ment' here denied the report, but did not
rule out the pers blity that the sentences of the Teminine
prisoners
might be
'Political ploy'
The Chin Mail: zaid
reduction in setitentes seemed more than likely, which would sive the
imPTEAS
יה
Lenter
MA14/1
veneer. the Mal said. Any amnesty would obviously be a political por
used by Britain in a further bid to improve her relations with China.
The Bouth China Morning Post the most influential newspaper in the
Colony--also attacked any minnesty.
It said the Left-wing prisoners should be made to serve out their terms
to demonstrate that activites of the kind which occurred in 1907 would
not be Talented.
Pl
IMMEDIATE
I
TOP COPY
:
SECRET
CYPHER CAT/-A
FROM HONG KONG 118538Z
SECRET
TO F.C.0. TELEGRAM NO 17 IMMEDIATE OF 11 JANUARY REPEATED
INFO PRIORITY PEKING (PERSONAL FOR DENSON)
PERSONAL FROM GOVERNOR FOR SECRETARY OF STATE.
MY TELEGRAM NO. 13.
I HAVE THE FOLLOWING FURTHER OBSERVATIONS ON YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 24, WHICH
I ASK BE CONSIDERED AND WHICH I WOULD LIKE TO PUT FORWARD AS
A BASIS FOR ANY FURTHER CONSULTATIONS HERE ON WHICH YOU MAY DECIDE.
2. IT HAS, OF COURSE, BEEN FOR LONG AN IMPORTANT CHINESE OBJECTIVE TO
SECURE THE RELEASE OF THESE PRISONERS. LOCAL COMMUNISTS
PROMISED, IN 1967, THAT THE RELEASE OF ALL THEIR ADHERENTS WHO SERE
IMPRISONED WOULD VERY QUICKLY BE EFFECTED. THAT THIS HAS
NOT BEEN ACHIEVED EXCEPT AT A PACE DICTATED BY US, HAS REFLECTED
ADVERSELY ON THE EFFORTS OF LOCAL COMMUNIST LEADERS TO REGAIN
ADHERENTS AND ON THE CREDIBILITY OF PEKING'S EXPRESSIONS OF SUPPORT
FOR HONG KONG COMMUNISTS. IN SHORT, IT HAS BOTH BOLSTERED CONFIDENCE
HERE AMONGST NON-COMMUNISTS AND DISCOURAGED COMMUNISTS.
IF THEY PROVE ABLE, EVEN NOW, TO EFFECT THE RELEASE OF PRISONERS AS THEY
PROMISED (THEY THEMSELVES ADMITTED FROM ABOUT 1968. THAT IT WOULD TAKE
SEVERAL YEARS) THEY WILL BE ABLE TO CLAIM (AND WILL CLAIM) A VICTORY
WHICH WILL DEMONSTRATE TO THEIR OWN ADHERENTS,
AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE PUBLIC AT LARGE, THAT THEY ARE INDEED
ABLE IN THE END TO FORCE US TO DO WHAT THEY WANT. OUR ONLY REAL
DEFENCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO SHEW CLEARLY THAT THE COMMUNISTS
CANNOT
FORMULATY EXCEPT BY THE USE OF A DEGREE OF ACTUAL VIOLENCE WHICH WILL
RUIN HONG KONG - UDEFDEMEDO 18 TO DEPART FROM THIS BASIC POSTURE IS, IN
MY OPINION, THE MOST FATAL MISTAKE THAT CAN BE MADE HERE: AND THE ISSUE
OF THE PRISONERS SEEMS TO BE THE GROUND THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO MAKE US
DEPART FROM IT.
+
SECRET
AK
IN
も
AS
+
!
SECRET
+
3. AS TO OUR MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO RESPOND, THE FACT IS THAT
OUR RESPONSE TO MORE REASONABLE BEHAVIOUR BY THEM THROUGHOUT HAS
BEEN GREATER THAN THEIRS. NOR CAN I SEE THAT THE CRDINARY POPUL-
ATION OF HONG KONG HAS ANY MORAL RESPONSIBILITY, AT THE RISK
UK 'CITIZENS UNCONNECTED WITH HONG KONG MA
ARE HARRASSED IN CHINA.
IT HAS BY NO MEANS BEEN UNOBSERVED
HERE THAT THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE OR NO SIMILAR CONCERN SHEWN FOR
HONG KONG CHINESE ABDUCTED OR IMPRISONED IN CHINA AS THERE HAS DEEN FOR
PERSONS OF EUROPEAN RACE.
¿
·
THERE MAY BE A CERTAIN FALSE CALM HERE AT THE MOMENT, BUT THE COMMUNISTS
CONTINUE TO MAKE CONSTANT AND STRENUOUS EFFORTS
IN TO GAIN ADHERENTS AND STRENGTHEN THEIR POSITION GENERALLY.
THIS THEY ARE INEVITABLY MEETING WITH SOME SUCCESS, AND CERTAINLY
NOTHING WE DO WILL EVER PERSUADE THEM TO DESIST FROM THESE EFFORTS.
NOR CAN I SEE THAT WE ARE IN ANY SPECIAL POSITION OF STRENGTH
AT THIS TIME, OTHER THAN THAT WE HAVE SO FAR SHEWN THAT WE CAN
PE FIRM ENOUGH TO COPE WITH PRESSURE SHORT OF DIRECT INTERVENTION
UR EXTREME VIOLENCE.
5. THE CHINESE CAN OF COURSE, ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS VERY UNLIKELY
AT THE MOMENT, RESORT TO MORE HOSTILE MEASURES AT ANY TIME -AND
ARE THE MORE LIKELY TO DO SO THE MORE THEY LEARN THAT THEY
CAN CUT-PRESSURE AND OUT-BARGAIN US. THE
"CAMPAIGN'' BY RELATIVES HAS AMOUNTED TO ONE PETITION (COVERING 41 OF
THE 74 STILL IN PRISON) PEACEFULLY PRESENTED:
AND NOTHING FURTHER HAS TRANSPIRED EXCEPT A CONTINUANCE OF FAIRLY LOW
-KEY CORRESPONDENCE IN THE COMMUNIST PRESS. IT BEARS
FC RESEMBLANCE TO THE SUSTAINED CAMPAIGN WHICH WAS UNDERTAKEN
TO INDUCE US TO RE-INSTATE DISMISSED WORKERS, AND WHICH WE RESISTED
YITHOUT MUCH DIFFICULTY AND WHICH PETERED OUT WHEN WE STOOD FIRM.
6. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE
BUT IS SEEMS TO ME
TO HAVE BEEN SO LINKED ALMOST AS MUCH BY US AS BY THE CHINESE. MY
IMPRESSION IS THAT WE HAVE LET OURSELVES GET INTO A UNFORTUNATE
BARGAINING POSITION IN THIS MATTER, AND IF HMG IS INDEED NOW IN SOME
MORAL NEED, AS PART OF A BARGAIN
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.