fco-21-93-foreign-including-british-banks-and-problem-of-staffing — Page 1

National Archives 英國國家檔案館 All

File No.

L

L

O

S

t

PART

(85. The gates & this jacket must be t'e same as that of the highest
grad document costuled tea. The copropriate upgrading slip must be
affixed when ever nor

CONFIDENTIA

the highest

ing slip must

FOREIGN OFFICE

DEPT.

FAR EASTERN

TITLE: CHINA

ECHIMIC ECO AMIC FOREIGN

REFER TO

DEPT.

NAME

DATE DEPT.

AFFAIRS INTERNAL

BANKS

REFER TO

NAME

IN

REFER TO

DATE DEPT.

NAME

DATE

F. EJS.

EESS.

$

<p>&nbsp;<span></span></p><!--more--><p></p>

LA. Howe Ejs.

PA. B

EX

7/5

1995.

Ess 15/5.

ESS

18/5.

ER

色する

Req

O

Eus

Js.

Bi

127

1878.

19/8

18.

918

REE

2/2.

ESS 22/5

EJs.

חוויה

138

Dowling Street.

126 23/5

.

Efs₤19/6. 2016

OPENED

21

26

11/10.

Room

יי.

DO NOT RETAIN FILES AND PAPERS UNNECESSARILY RETURN THEM TO REGISTRY FOR
B.U. OR P.A.

FILE

CLOSED

2-/6/67

FILE No.

FC 5/4

(NR. The gesing of this jacket must be the same as that of the highest
graded document card ini. The appropriac uzgrulling slip must be affixed
when ever necessary.)

CONFIDENTIAL

PART

A

L

Ed (5094)

Reference.

Note for file.

Folios: 100

Cofid

102

109 112-113

119+ (130)

Fes/4 (A)

to Kuala Lumpur. 10.

А

UNCLASSIFIED

ہال

1375

Mr Dendrit Mr Mustan

Saf.

Enter

With the compliments of

THE OFFICE OF

Rc

THE BRITISH CHARGÉ D'AFFAIRES

G.G.H. Walden RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES No. 31

P.J. Weston 18 SEP 1968

PEKING

Fes 4

28 August, 1968.

J.D.I. Boyd, Esq.,

Far Eastern Department.

Foreign Office.

5/4

[

NOTHING TO

BE WRITTEN

IN THIS MARGIN,

!

Minutes.

Record of a meeting on 26 August between Ir. Cradock and Kr. Lau

of Consular Department.

131

Mr. Cradock began by enquiring about the identity of the responsible
official who was receiving him. Hr. Lau gave his name and described
himself as a Deputy Division Chief of Consular Department.

2. Kr. Cradock said that he had come to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
on a very serious and urgent matter. Mrs. Johnston, the wife of the
former Manager of the Chartered Bank in Shanghai, had telephoned him
from Shanghai on 25 August to tell him that at 2 a.m. the previous night
rep- resentatives of the Public Security Bureau had come to her house
and had taken her husband avay under arrest, They had also taken a meber
of items from Mr. and Mrs, Johnston's personal possessions. Later the
same morning, they had called at the office of the Chartered Bank where
the present Manager, Mr. Cannings, was present, and had taken away a
mamber of riles belonging to the bank. Kr. Cradock said he was naturally
seriously concerned at this news and assured hin that this concern
shared by RMG. His concern was deepened by his knowledge of Kr.
Johnaton's personal situation. He was Manager of the Shanghai branch of
the Chartered Bank until 24 July of this year when the Department of
Commerce and Industry in Shanghai formally accepted that Mr. R.
Cannings, who had recently arrived in Shanghai, "should take over the
office of Manager from Mr. Johnston, This meant that Mr. Johnston had no
further duties in Shanghai and he had already applied to the Public
Security Bureau in Juns for exit visas for himself and his wife to leave
China in early July. visas had still not been granted at the time of his
arrest, in spite of his having on two subsequent occasions requested

These

urgent issue of the visas for special reasons, The first occasion, on 3
July, concerned the serious illness of Kr. Johnston's 83 year old mother
in Britain whose only son he was and on whose account he wished to
return to England urgently. The second occasion was in the week
preceding his arrest when after he had been to the local hospital for
treatment the hospital had given him a certificate stating that he was
suffering from a kidney or bladder complaint and would probably require
an operation in due course he had immediately handed a copy of this
certificate to the Public Security Bureau to support his visa
application. Mr. Cradock said that he had a copy of the certificate with
him, and said that Mr. Lau would understand his concern for Mr.
Johnston's well-being was increased by this knowledge of the poor state
of Ir. Johnston's health

/that

../(Mr.Cradock

Minutes.

Mr. Cradock handed the copy of the certificate to Mr. Lau, who accepted
it). Mr. Cradock requested immediate information of the charges against
Mr. Johnston, and permission for a representative of the Öffice to
travel to Shanghai immediately to talk to Mr. Johnston,

3.

Ir, Lau replied that he would inform Mr. Cradock after he had consulted
the relevant departments. Ir. Cradock stressed the urgency of the
matter, and said that Ir. Jöhnston's family would naturally be very
concerned, as we were ourselves. Could Mr. Lau give any idea when we
could expect a reply? Lr. Lan replied that a reply could be given only
after enquiries had been made,

Kr. Cradock said that he would like reply very soon, within a few days
at the latest.

!

4. Mr. Cradock said that he would like to use this opportunity to raise
another question concerning other British subjects în Shanghai. Bix
British subjects had applied to the appropriate authorities in Shanghai
during the last four months for exit visas to leave China; the dates
which they gave for their departure were all well · overdue and none of
the visas had yet been granted. Apart from Ir. and Irs. Johnston, to
whom Mr. Cradock had already referred, the other orses were:-

Kr. and Mrs. Crozier and daughter of the

Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank who had applied on 23 April to leave on

31 May.

Mr. and Mrs. Self of the Hong Kong and

Shanghai Bank who had applied on 24 April to leave on 6 lay.

Nr. Cradock said that before he had heard of Mr. Johnston's arrest he
had in any case been intending to ask for an inter- view with Consular
Department this week to explain about Kr. Johnston's 11l health and to
ask the Department to use its good

Tices to arrange for his and his wife's exit visas to be issued urgently
on medical grounds. Ir. Cradock said he also had to inform Consular
Department that Mr. and Era. Crozier's 21 year old daughter was
suffering from recurrent chest troubles and that Mrs. Self had also been
suffering some 111 health, There were therefore strong medical' reasons
for all these people being allowed to return to Britain iänediately and
he hoped that all other visas would be issued without further delay. Mr.
Cradock pointed out that there was no restriction whatever on the
departure from Britain of any Chinese bank officials in London and that

../ENG

I

!

NOTHING

TO

BE WRITTEN

IN THIS

MARGIN.

Minutes.

Z !

NOTHING

TO

BE

WRITTEN

IN THIS MARGIN.

KNG was seriously concerned that British bank officials in China and
their families were prevented from leaving in this way. In an interview
on this question on 24 January Xr. Kau of Consular Department had said
that if restrictions on Chinese bank officials in London were removed,
the Chinese would "certainly make recíprocal geatures",

Lau undertook to transmit the request for granting exit visas to British
subjects in Shanghai to the appropriate authorities.

5. Kr. Cradock said that he mould like to take this opportunity also of
raising once again the question of exit visas for members of the staff
of the Office of the British Chargèd'Affaires, He said that Ir. Yuan of
Consular Department had informed a member of his staff on 27 July that
the Department was now prepared to issue all the exit visas which were
out- standing to members of the British Office and their families.
Despite this state- sent there were still nine such people whose
applications for exit visas had still not been granted,

A11

these people had asked to leave China more than two months ago but were
still being prevented from doing so. He hoped that all these visas would
be granted without further delay.

6. Ir. Lau replied that he was not responsible for this question and
would transmit the request to Mr. Yuan of Consular Department.

7. Mr. Cradock then handed over alist of British citizens currently
detained in China, Kr. Leu read the list and pointed out that Grey
(whose nase appeared on the list) was a question for News Department.
Finally. Er. Cradock reminded Mr. Lau that EMG took a very serious view
of the arrest of Mr. Johnston, and would like a reply within a few days
at the latest.

Mr. Hunter

Fr. Cradock

(0.0.H. Walden) 28 August. 1968.

Copies: Far Eastern Department.

Political Adviser's Office, Hong Kong

CYPHER/CAT A

ROUTINE FOREIGN OFFICE

PAM NUMBER 835

CONFIDENTIAL

170

FTO PEK

AR160GEPTEMBER 1968 (F)

17 SEPTEMB

F

CONFIDENTIAL.

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 835 OF 16 SEPTEMBER 1968 REPEATED
FOR INFORMATION TO MING KONG, HC SINGAPORE.

MY TELEGRAM NUMBER 897

-

CHARTERED BANK.

102

THE CHARTERED BANK INFORMED US TODAY THAT THE BANK OF CHINA IN SINGAPORE
HAD PRESENTED A CHEQUE FOR SINGAPORE DOLLARS 2 HILLION. AS THEIR ACCOUNT
STANDS AT ONLY DOLLARS 700,000 THE CHEQUE IS BEING RETURNED AND THE
SINGAPORE LEGAL AUTHORITIES INFORMED. THE CHARTERED BANK TRIED TO
PERSUADE THE BANK OF CHINA NOT TO PRESENT THE CHEQUE POINTING OUT THAT
THEY HAD BEEN ACTING IN PEURSUANCE OF A COURT ORDER IN PAYING THE
DOLLARS 7 MILLION INTO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE BANK OF CHINA REPLIED
THAT THEY WERE ACTING ON INSTRUCTIONS FROM PEKING AND THAT IF THE CHEQUE
WERE RETURNED THE CHARTERED BANK MUST ACCEPT ALL THE SERIOUS CONSEQUEN-
CES''.

2. THE CHARTERED BANK THINK THAT THIS MOVE MAY CREATE SERIOUS PROBLEMS
IN BANKING CIRCLES IN SINGAPORE AND WILL CERTAINLY BRING THE BANK OF
CHINA INTO COLLISION WITH THE SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT. THEY ARE ALSO NOW
MORE INCLINED TO LINK THE AFFAIR WITH THE ARREST OF JOHNSTON IN
SHANGHAI.

SOSPA

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

P.O. F.E.D.

CONSULAR DEPT.

E.R.D.

S.E.A.D.

NEWS DEPT.

0.0.

H.K.D.

CONFIDENTIAL

Registry No.

DEPARTMENT

Fehlu

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION PRIORITY MARKINGS

Top-Segret

Confidential

Restricted

Wesselfied

RED Immediate Ecosity Routine

.}

(Date)

Despai

-11

* Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram shoyli

reach addressee(s)

4000

Off

Confidentient

€130

BR

16452

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

69/681

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

En Clair. Code- Cypher

Draft Telegrape to:- Petzig

No.

835 (Date) 16/9

And to:--

Repeat yo Hong Kong

BHC Singapore

Saving to:-

Distribution:-

Derric

F.o.

F.E.D.

Security classification"

[Secu

[ Privacy marking

-if any

[Codeword-if any]

]

PEKING

835

Addressed to

telegram No.

And to

repeated for information to

Saving to......

(date)

16 Sept

SANTANANAR

HONG KONG, HC SINGAPORE

My telegram No. 807- Chartered Bank.

The Chartered Bank informed us today that the

Bank of China in Singapore had presented a cheque

for Singapore $2 million.

As their account stands

at only $700,000 the cheque is being returned and the

legnt

Singapore/authorities informed. The Chartered Bank

tried to persuade the Bank of China not to present

the cheque pointing out that they had been acting in

pursuance of a Court Order in paying over the

mki

#7 million the Sheriff's office.

The Bank of

China replied that they were acting on instructions

from Peking and that if the cheque were returned the

Chartered Bank must accept all the "serious

Copies to: Com what consequences".

ERO

SEAD

2. The Chartered Bank think that this move may

News.

co.

нк

create serious problems in banking circles in Singapore and will
certainly bring the Bank of China

into collision with the Singapore Government.

They]

/also

now more mchuid

To has the also considered that the possibility that thie

affair-being connected with the arrest of

Johnston in Shanghai. is now stronger,

032717 E.M.&5.LM. 1640 3/67.

1619

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

DiD

129

261019

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 3:

128

17 SEP 1968

13

13 September, 1968

Rs14

Thank you for your letter of 26 August about your cousin Mrs. Margaret
Self in Shanghai.

Both the Forsim Office and our kission in Peking are very well aware of
the difficulties your cousin and her husband (whom I know well) have
been encountering in their ettempts to leave China. KČ JE TO Rjoruached
the Chinese on TEAZRIEZTO LLC ocelɛion.. bout this problem, the intest
being when the Parliamentary unier secretary state ummoned the Ohinese
Chargé d'affaires in London to a meeting on 6 September. By colleagues
sim 1 lave considered "biš possible pressure can be brought to wear upon
the Chincue in an attempt to help your cousin and other british subjects
some of whom have been detained for questioning or arrested by the
Chinese gutnorities. se are however, wood with a situsties in shion any
attempt at retaliation on our part would almost certainly make the
position of the pritish subjects in China worse rather than bett.r. We
our tɔt hose to win any contest in pleasantness

with the Colmuze.

the INET

128 i. alose tough with the dig rong and shangnai ning Corporation and
co-ordinate car representations with I spoke to tlm -oting kanıger on my
way through nang 3d you ...y imus, they tre lao in touch with the
Chinese là con s

I kausisted that a pie cave recently been some Javeloguents and we rone
that there will be some good news before vary lang,

.1.

I can sasure you that your cousin's case is constantly in our minds at
me & all continue to do rll in our power to obtain exit visas for lifa
ani nic wife. I believe that our seat hope of suscesa is tɔ vork for a
graduel portalisation in our relations with China.

Era, "tells look, Ciprým "awr,

at. Joga elñ,

Cardişənə lire.

(D. C. Forson)

WEL SINI

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Registry No.

FECS 2X

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secret

Secret

Confidential

Restricted. Unclassified.

PRIVACY MARKING

DRAFT Letter

9

Type 1 +

To:-

Mrs. Stella Hook, Cipryn Fawr, St. Dogmaels,

From

Sir Donald Hopson

Telephone No. & Ext.

Cardiganshire.

Department

In Ocalduros

شمت

Jon

बा

Thank you for your letter of 26 August

about your cousin Kro. Margaret Self in

Shanghai.

Both the Foreign Office and our Kission

are very well

way

in Peking then ware of the difficulties

(whom I te now well!)

your cousin and her husband/Fave been encounter-

ing in their atte pts to leave China. We have

approached the Chinese on numerous occasions about this roli, the latest
fa; when the

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State summoned

the Chinese Gargè d'Affaires in London to a meeting on September. I and
M. " colleague"

amig

have considered what possible precaure can be

brought to bear upon the Chinese in an attempt

to help your cousin and other British subjects

DOME

Whom in an even worse position who have been de-

tained for questioning or arrested by the

Chinese authorities. We are however faced with

Lon our pock a situation in which any attempt retaliation

_hy the Britiek/would almost certainly make the

position of the British subjects in China worse

rather than better. We cannot hope to win any

contest in unpleasantness with the Chineve. A

can tell you in confidence that the question of

publicity over the plight of British and other

foreign nationals who are being held by the

Chinese has been and is being actively con-

sidered, but we are greatly concerned lest

A+

T

120 effect.

DANKIMUS to make

Sundane to the thinese beta in šelin-

Betonunà I can assure you that your cousin's

conftantly in ont munk and He

cas- is the shall continue to

do all in our power to

hum and his wife.

Mux concil

exit visas for

jen imuraydsons of the conci

for British subjects in Ohine generally. /I

Latifi believe that our best hope of sugéess is

to work for a gradual normalisation in our

We are in

flose touch with the Honry Kray and

Bawang

Corpriatim and

Coradunate oné

абите

political relations with Chinapphic has for a representations

long time been the main objective for our

Government's policy.

$ mustead

your of I did not hav

that

cannot

speedy

necen arly Seput

This is what you are dring,

but I can't teɣund ett is

Vark

easy work of

Jesuits an

(mok very quiet

of me espurred.

undustans mat mere

have recently bem some

development and we

hope that

be sonu

very long

will

томы гото

news

good Tige

with mem. /As

you mon

пот Am are

VM

Row,

also

win www

Ahmics on Herry

Kime.

Quf!" /

I spoke to

the Acting Mongr

On my way

dro

Hony Kory, and

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

See Full 4283

Рад

Pad from

Cippyn fawr 2 A. Dogmael.

RECEIVED IN MCHIVES No.31 Cardigan.

Sr. D. Hops. 17 SEP 1968 26th August 68.

Dear Sir Donald,

るこ

My cousin, Mhe. Mangared

self, is in Shanghai with her

میان

husband Daet self who is in the employ gretting Kony- Shanghai Banking
Corporation. Duck Self should have left Chine

I

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.