FCO 21/226 Imprisonment of New China News Agency journalists and detention of Anthony Grey in China

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PRESS - FOREIGN JOURNALISTS - IN.

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ARCHIVE

TELEGRAM NUMBER 575

"AY 150.

RET

FR/3/8.

LAST PAPER

TOP COPY

120

TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

7 MAY 1968

ADDRESSED CO TELNO 575 OF 7TH MAY RFI PEKING.

116

PEKING TELEGRAM 362: GREY.

copy.

doar.

sn also

be entered on Srem

FROM THE HONG KONG POINT OF VIEW THESE PROPOSALS CLEARLY RAISE

REAL DIFFICULTIES. THE FACT IS THAT THE POSITION OF GREY 15

fici

NOT A MATTER OF IMMEDIATE CONCERN TO THE POEPLE OF HONG KONG SEMI-

COLON AND THIS IMPOSES VERY STRICT LIMITS TO THE EXTENT TO

WHICH WE COULD JUSTIFY LOCALLY CONCESSIONS MADE HERE ON HIS

BEHALF.

2. AS OUR TELEGRAM 1909 OF 26 DECEMBER TO CO INDICATED, THE

IDEA OF RELEASING THE TWO NCN A MEN TO CHINA IN RETURN FOR GREY'S

RELEASE WOULD PROBABLY BE ACCEPTABLE HERE. BUT THERE IS IN FACT

NO LEGAL OR MORAL PARALLEL BETWEEN GREY'S POSITION AND THAT OF

THE TWO CONVICTED NCNA PRISOMERS SEMICOLON AND TO RELEASE THE LATTER HERE UNCONDITIONALLY, COULD NOT REALLY BE JUSTIFIED

LOCALLY ON ANY REASONABLE GROUNDS, IN PRINCIPLE IT WOULD PROVIDE

AN EXTREMELY AWKWARD PRECEDENT. IF THE CHINESE KNEW THAT WE WERE

PREPARED TO REMIT THE SENTENCES OF THESE TWO CONVICTED PRISONERS

AND RELEASE THEM PREMATURELY IN HONG KONG IN ORDER TO STRIKE A

BARGAIN WITH THE CHINESE, IT WOULD BE FOOLISH OF THEM NOT TO

PRESS US TO REL ASE MANY MORE PRISONERS THAN TWO. IN THE LONG RUN.

HAVING CONCEDED THE POINT OF PRINCIPLE, WE MIGHT FIND IT IMPOSSIBLE

TO RESIST DEMANDS FOR THE PREMATURE RELEASE OF ALL THE CONVICTED

PRISONERS HERE. AN EARLY MOVE IN THIS DIRECTION WOULD RISK GRAVELY

UNDERMINING PUBLIC CONFIDENCE AND SUGGEST THAT WE WERE BEING

PUSHED ALONG THE PATH TO ACCEPTANCE OF THE COMMUNISTS' DEMANDS.

3. THE COMPROMISE SUGGESTED IN PARA 3 OF THE TELEGRAM UNDER

REFERENCE MIGHT JUST BE PALATABLE TO PUBLIC OPINION HERE, PROVIDED

THAT THE CHINESE KEPT THEIR PART OF THE BARGAIN. BUT IF THEY DID

915

SECRET

/NOT

SECRET -2-

NOT AND WE WERE CVIOUSLY TRICKED, PUBLIC REACTIONS COULD BE VERY

CRITICAL AND WE HIGHT FACE SOMETHING LIKE A CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE.

FOR THIS REASON IT WOULD SEEM VERY DESIRABLE AT LEAST TO TEST OUT

THE GROUND WITH CHOI COUR TOP SECRET TELEGRAM 496) FIRST, BEFORE

STARTING TO BARGAIN ON THE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT PROBLEM OF GREY'S

RELEASE.

4. OF COURSE THERE ARE STRONG HUMANITARIAN REASONS FOR DOING AS

MUCH AS WE CAN TO GET GREY OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. BUT IT SEEMS

DOUBTFUL IN ANY CASE IF TAKING A VERY EARLY INITIATIVE ON HIS

PROBLEM IN ISOLATION WILL NECESSARILY PRODUCE THIS RESULT. I AGREE

WITH PARA 6(B) OF THE TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE THAT IT MIGHT

INSTEAD BE TAKEN AS A SIGN OF WEAKNESS AND ENCOURAGE THE CHINESE

TO RAISE THEIR BIDS. WE WENT SOME WAY IN OUR STATEMENT OF APRIL

19TH TO MAKE OUR POSITION CLEAR TO THE C P G AND TO GIVE THEM

OPENINGS IF THEY REALLY WANT TO NEGOTIATE ABOUT THE MAJOR OUTSTANDING

HONG KONG ISSUES. THERE IS SOME REASON TO THINK THAT THEY MAY STILL

BE CONSIDERING HOW TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM SEMICOLON AT ANY RATE

LI CHOH- CHIH COUR TELEGRAM 440) LEFT HERE ON APRIL 23 ALLEDGELY

FOR TALKS IN PEKING AND HAS NOT YET RETURNED TO HONG KONG. THERE

DOES SEEM TO BE A REAL RISK THAT AN EARLY APPROACH ABOUT GREY ON

THE LINES OF PARA 5 OF THE TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE COULD CUT

ACROSS OUR OTHER LINES OF CONTACT SEMICOLON AND THAT BY SUGGESTING

WE WERE PREPARED TO MAKE MAJOR CONCESSIONS IN ORDER TO DEAL WITH

THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WE WOULD DRAW ATTENTION TO A MAJOR WEAKNESS

IN OUR BARGAINING POSITION.

5. OUR FEELING IS THEREFORE THAT FOR THE MOMENT IT WOULD BE BEST

TO CONCENTRATE ON RELATIVELY MINOR MOVES TO ALLEVIATE GREY'S POSITION SEMICOLON AND NOT TO PRESS AHEAD WITH NEGOTIATIONS FOR

HIS RELEASE UNTIL WE HAVE HAD MORE TIME TO SEE WHETHER THERE IS A RESPONSE (EITHER THROUGH THE MFA OR OUR OWN LOCAL LINES OF

CONTACT) TO THE OPEN INGS PROVIDED IN OUR STATEMENT OF 13TH APRIL.

OPENINGS

SECRET

16. AS

SECRET

HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO.575 TO COMMONWEALTH OF-ICE.

-3-

ABOUT

Is REGARDS THE POINT IN PARA 8 OF THE TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE

'CLEMENCY' FOR CONVICTED PRISONERS, THIS IS THE MOST

DIFFICULT END OF THE PROBLEM FROM THE POLITICAL, MORAL AND LEGAL POINT OF VIEW. IF WE ARE THINKING OF ENTERING INTO SOME SORT CE BARGAIN ABOUT THE RELEASE OF PRISONERS, THE POSITION OF THE DETAINIES WOULD PROVIDE US WITH A MUCH EASIER FIELD IN WHICH TO MANOEUVRE, SINCE THEIR RELEASE WOULD INVOLVE NO INTERFERENCE WITH

THE DUE PROCESS OF LAW.

7. YOU WILL NO DOUBT WISH TO DISCUSS THESE PROBLEMS WITH THE GOVERNOR WHILE HE IS IN LONDON.

FOREIGN OFFICE PLEASE PASS PRIORITY PEKING 213.

MR. GASS

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FOREIGN OFFICE

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

- 2 MAY 1968

2 May 1968

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Aadressed to Hong kong telegram No. 261 of 2 may, Repeated for in ormation to roreign Office.

1our telegram wo. 197 to me: Grey.

kexerence sub-paragraph (h).

Are prisoners allowed

or would they be allowed chess sets?

sir . пopson

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30 April 1968

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CONFIDENTIAL

Прав

FD138

Addressed to Peking telegram "9, 197 or 30 April, repeated for information to Commonwealth Ofiice.

Grey.

Your telegram No. 253 [telegram no. 356 to Foreign office]:

(a) 304 prisoners (including the journalists) are in singie cells and 204 are 3 to a cell. The remainder, mostly young persons in other Institutions, e.g. open prison, are in dormitory accommodation.

(0)

Those who work are in constant contact with fellow inmates. Those who refuse to work have one hour's exercise per day, taken in groups of about 80.

(á)

Prisoners have access to the library as required, There

is also a "travelling" library service.

(0)

Unlimited quantities or books can be sent to prisoners, who are normally allowed 3 books at any one time. Lagazines are also unrestricted.

(r) 15 minutes.

(g) NO, except in cases of emergency.

(n)

Playing cards are generally not permitted, to prevent gambling, though in practice a prisoner is allowed caras in his cell. Prisoners have no access to radio.

(1)

Prisoners have access at any time to prison orricials. In addition, a J.P. visits the prison every fortnight.

Foreign Office please pass Immediate Peking 197.

hr. Gass

[Repeated as requested]

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MORITY PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telegram No. 362

CONFIDENTIAL

29 April, 1968

FD13/8

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 362 of 29 April, Repeated for information to Hong Kong.

My telegram No. 348: Grey.

I hope approach as recommended in support of my telegram under reference may succeed in bringing about some improvement in Grey's conditions. We must however also give further consideration to moves that might lead to his release.

2. We have had no official reply to our proposal to release Hauch P-ing to China in exchange for Grey but in view of Lo Kuei-po'a negative responses to our offer of 13 April that Communist prisoners might be released to reside in China we must assume that a renewal of offer of release to China whether of one or both of N.^.N.A. prisoners would be rejected by Chinese.

3. It might be possible to get Chinese to accept an arrange- ment whereby Hsueh P-ing and Lo Yu-ho would be released and would - "ask" to reside in China until their sentence expires on understanding that they would be free to return to Hong Kong afterwards.

4. We must accept however that the Chinese may well insist on unconditional release in Hong Kong of one or both N. C.N.A, men and it is worth noting that in discussions last week with Bargmann the West German correspondent, Hong Kong Communist leaders are alleged to have stated price for grey was for both to be released in Colony. In last resort unless we are to abandon our efforts to obtain Grey's release I think we shall have to be prepared to agree to this.

5. I therefore recommend that I be instructed to approach Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially and inform them that you wish me to initiatie negotiations for the release of Grey. AB part of this first approach I suggest I should refer to our previous offer to deport Haueh P-ing, to Lo Kuei-po's rejection in general of such procedure, and hint that a compromise satis- factory to both sides might be reached if it were agreed that Houch P-ing should be released on clear understanding that he would volunteer" to visit China (perhaps in response to an invitation from the Chinese Government)" and stay there until his sentence expired, after which date he could return to Hong Kong if he wished. offer would be made initially for Haueh P-ing but could be increased to include Lo Yu-ho as a later concession if necessary. We should have to get a firm understanding from Chinese on simultaneous release of Grey. Only in the last resort would be consider offering simple release in the Colony. We should also have to resist attempts by Chinese to include all their "patriotic" newspaper workers in the deal, though I presume that if Chinese accepted our compromise on "deportation" the objection to increasing the numbers would not (repeat not) be so great.

CONFIDENTIAL

/6. I recognize

CONFIDENTIAL

I recognize that these proposals are open to considerable objections:

(a) To discriminate again in favour of N.C.N.A. prisoner

raises obvious difficulties for Government of Hong Kong.

(b) Further approach by us might be read [? grp, omitted]

Chinese as a sign of weakness and encourage them to insist on a higher price e.g. release in Hong Kong of other newspapers employees and possibly other confront- etion prisoners. On the other hand they have sometimes responded favourably on the limited occasions when we have made conciliatory moves.

from other Hong Kong 188usa. This seems to have been their grp. undec.] coolness in response to our proposals of 7 February on visas. We might therefore find that we were initiating further discussions on Hong Kong at a time when we would prefer to leave it to the Chinese to make the next move.

As against this there are the following considerations :

(a) Our concern about Grey's well-being.

It seems highly

likely that until the two N.C.N.A. men are contacted Grey will remain in custody. Iinless we make some move the earliest date he might expect to be released would be September 1969 (earliest date by which both N.C.N.A. men would be free allowing for normal remission).

(b) It is just possible that the Chinese who may find publicity

on Orey embarrassing particularly the new wave which will presumably follow the newe of my visit would be prepared to deal with his case in isolation from other Hong Kong issues,

(c) Even if they insisted on bringing in other issues, in the and they might regard the release of the two N.C.N.A. men as providing them with "victory" that they need to sign off in Hong Kong, accepting the release to China of the other prisoners in whom they are interested.

This leade on to the question of a larger act of clemency affecting other confrontation prisoners, as discussed first in your telegram No. 2047 to Hong Kong and Hong Kong telegram No.1501 of 1967 and more recently in correspondence ending with Hong Kong telegram No. 92 of 19 January. I should be glad to have your views and those of the Governor on whether the prospects of such a step are now any brighter and what our longer term plans are for dealing with confrontation prisoners, ¿ven if we are fortunate enough to return to normal movement for staff of this office and for bank staffs in Shanghai we cannot expect to get back to anything like normal relations with the Chinese until the issues of prisoners is dealt with and this is bound to affect the whole range of issues, in particular the treatment of British subjecte in detention in China.

CONFIDENTIAL

/9. I should

CONFIDENTIAL

Peking telegram No. 362 to Foreign Office

I should be grateful for your early comments on the proposal about Grey. We shall for example have to decide whether to combine such an approach (should you approve it) with one about visits etc. (my telegram No. 348) or to keep them separate.

Foreign office pass Priority to Hong Kong No. 257.

Sir D. Hopson

[Repeated es requested]

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TELEGRAM NUMBER $28

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TO COMMONWEALTH OFF ICE

26 APRIL 1968.

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114

ADDPESSED CO TELNO 528 OF 26TH APRIL RFI PEKING.

YOUR TELEGRAN 721 : GREY.

WE APOLOGISE FOR INADVERTENT USE OF DETAINEES IN OUR TELEGRAM

522. WE SHOULD OF COURSE HAVE SAID 'PRISONERS**.

2. 13 JOURNALIST PRISONERS, INCLUDING 2 N CN A, ARE INCLUDED IN THE LIST IN PARAGRAPH 2 OF OUR TELEGRAM 520. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE EARLIEST AND LATEST DATES OF RELEASE OF THE REMAINING 11 JOURNALIST PRISONERS IN STANLEY, PLUS 2 FEMALES IN LAICHIKOK

PRISON.

HUI WAN-CHING 9 OCTOBER 1968 9 JUNE 1969.

WONG CHAK

F WONG LING

WONG YAT-LOU

CHAN TSE-FUNG

SHUM KA1-LAM

LEE SIU-HUNG

NG TSOI-SHING

EU TAI CHỐN

POON WAI-WEI

F CHAN YIM-KUEN

2 FEBRUARY 1971-3 OCTOBER 1972

12 SEPTEMBER 1969 12 SEPTEMBER 1970

12 SEPTEMBER 1969 12 SEPTENDER 1970

12 SEPTEMBER 1969 - 12 SEPTENBER 1970

4 JANUARY 1969-4 SEPTEMBER 1970

6 SEPTEMBER 1969 ·

1969 - 6 SEPTEMBER 1970

12 SEPTEMBER 1959

12 SEPTEMBER 1970

3 SEPTEMBER 1969 3 SEPTEMBER 1970

6 SEPTEMBER 1969 - 6 SEPTEMBER 1970

5 SEPTEMBER 1969

7 SEPTEMBER 1970

CHAK LUEN-FAI 6 SEPTEMBER 1969 - 6 SEPTEMBER 1970

CHENG FOOK-MING 28 DECEMBER 1968 ·

29 JULY 1969.

FO PLEASE PASS IMMEDIATE PEKING 186.

SIR D. TRE.CH

[REFETITION TO PEKING REFERRED FOR DEPARTIENTAL DECISION). DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

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30 APR 1968

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YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 522. GREY.

WE ARE PASSING TO REUTERS HEAD OFFICE HERE RELEVANT DETAILS ABOUT

THE TWO N CNA MEN AND WILL TELL THEM THAT SIMILAR DETAILS IN RESPECT OF OTHER NEWSPAPER EMPLOYEES CONCERNED ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT IN ANY EVENT REUTERS DO NOT INTEND PUBLISHING THE INFORMATION.

2. WE ASSUME THAT ALL THESE EMPLOYEES WERE SENTENCED IN COURT TO TERMS OF IMPRISONMENT (SINCE OTHERWISE QUESTIONS OF LENGTH OF SENTENCE AND REMISSION PERIODS WOULD NOT ARISE) AND THAT THEY ARE INCLUDED IN FIGURES GIVEN IN PARAGRAPH 2 OF YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 186 TO PEKING. GRATEFUL FOR CONFIRMATION OF THIS IN VIEW OF USE OF

WORD QUOTE DETAINEES UNQUOTE IN LAST SENTENCE OF YOUR TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE RELEVANT PARTICULARS IN RESPECT OF THEM, WHETHER OR NOT WE PASS THIS INFORMATION ON TO REUTERS, SINCE IT WILL BE USEFUL TO US HERE IN CONSIDERING ANY FURTHER DEMANDS FROM CHINESE IN ANY POSSIBLE FUTURE NEGOTIATIONS OVER GREY.

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Telegram No. 520

25 April, 1968

1/5

30 APR 1968

CONFIDENTIAL

501378

Addressed to Peking telegram No. 186 of 25 April, "Repeated for information to Commonwealth office.

Your telegram No. 245.

Earliest and latest dates of release (dependent on remission serned) for 2 N.G.N.A. prisoners are:

Sit Ping

Lo Yuk Wo

17 November 1968 - 18 July 1969

12 September 1969-12 September 1970.

So far, both are eligible for full remission, which is one-third of sentence.

2. Approximate release dates of other Stanley prisoners are

1968

422

1969

147

1970

1971

1972

1973

1974

3. Letter follows by next bag.

F.O. Please pass Immediate Peking 186.

Kr. Gass

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PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno 347

CONFIDENTIAL

24 April 1968

112

IVED IN ..VES No.31

GO APR 1968

FD138

Addressed to Hong Kong telegram No. 245 of 24 April Repeated for information to Foreign Office

Political Adviser.

Grateful for an early reply to Cradock's letter PER/3 of 25 March. In particular grateful if you could telegraph details concerning two NCNA prisoners and possible information on other Communist prisoners in summarized form.

Foreign Office please pass Hong Kong

Sir D. Hopson

[Repeated as requested]

FILES

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CONFIDENTIAL

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COMMON WEALTH OFFICE

Telno 498

20 April 1968

CONFIDENTI AL

20 April,

Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No. 498 of

Repeated for information to Peking.

Your telegram No. 678: Prision Visits,

I agree that we should avoid being drawn into discussions, which might well prove interminable. On the other hand, I would not favour a meeting at which our representative merely listened to Communist complaints and made no reply: for that would suggest that we were finding difficulty in answering and would also give NCNA good grounds for blaming us for procrastination. My preference would be to give NCNA a short and sharp reply to their points by telephone. If they persisted in trying to argue thereafter we could advise them to address their complaints in writing to the Commissioner of Prisons.

Reports from the warders present during the visitors' conversations with prisoners show that the NCNA have embroidered a good deal on what the visitors were told. Most of the prisoners complained about having to stay in their cells for long periods, but they also made it clear that they were all allowed an hour's exercise a day. Some of the prisoners complained about the quantity of food, but these complaints were not universal: and although one prisoner said there was send in the rice (as NCNA have alleged to us) another denied it. None of them to our knowledge complained of bad health.

lines:-

Our proposed reply by telephone would take the following

(a) No prisoners are in "strict isolated confinement".

220

of the confrontation prisoners work for a considerable period each day outside their cells. Others have refused to work and remain in their cells during normal working periods, but all of these get daily exercise in groups for an hour.

(b) The incident at Laichikok Prison was in fact provoked by

foolish behaviour by the Communist prisoners. Two of them as a result received light bruises, but they were immediately given as much medical attention as they required in the prison hospital.

day. And it can be supplemented on medical advice. The food is prepared by the prisoners themselves and they are hardly likely to put sand in their own rice.

CONFIDENTIAL

/(d) Full

NNNNN

CONFIDENT LAL

(a) Full medical attention is available at all times to

those who need it. Allegations of insufficient nourishment hardly square with the fact that most prisoners referred to have gained weight (some up to 10 pounds) since they were admitted to prison,

Foreign Office please pass Immediate Peking 178.

Sir D. Trench

[Repetition to Peking referred for Departmental

decision]

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CONFIDENTIAL

18 April,

COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

18 April 1968

ED N ES

FS NG 31

52013/8

Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No. 491 of

Repeated for information to Peking.

N.C.N.A. contacted P.A.'s office today requesting meeting tomorrow to "raise several points arising after the official visits to Stanley and Laichikok". In reply to our request for clarific- ation, they produced the following four demands:

(a) Patriotic prisoners at Stanley had been in "strict

isolated confinement" for 5 months. This must cease.

(b) Women compatriots at Laichikok had recently been beaten up and "seriously wounded" by other prisoners belonging to TRIAD 3ocieties. The prison authorities must prevent such incidents and give immediate and effective medical treatment to the injured. (See our telegram No. 471).

must be taken to improve the supply of food.

(a) Compatriots' health has been "seriously affected" because

of isolated confinement and inadequate nutrition. must be given effective medical treatment.

They

We said we would consider N.C.N.A.'s request for a meeting but gave no undertaking to see them tomorrow.

No. 172.

Foreign Office please pass Immediate Peking as my telegram

Sir D. Trench

[Repetition to Peking referred for Departmental

decision"]

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Telno 258 30 March 1968

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F013/8

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 258 of 30 March Repeated for information to Hong Kong

Your telegram No. 570 to Hong Kong: Prison Visită,

I agree and would propose to pass message (as suggested in paragraph 5 of Hong Kong telegram No. 395) to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs by telephone if possible in order to avoid giving them opportunity of raking over the whole subject again.

I should be grateful therefore if Hong Kong would inform me when they intend to make contact with NCNA so that we may pass our message more or less simultaneously.

Sir D. Hopson

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Telno 395

CONFIDENTIAL

29 March 1968

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Είναι ARCHIVES N. &*

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F91378

Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No. 395 of 29 Karch

Repeated for information to Peking.

Your telegram No. 558: Prison Visits.

I accept that eligibility for visits is strictly speaking a matter for discussion in Peking, but seriously doubt if there is anything to be gained by referring the matter back to the K.F.A. again at this stage. This could provide the opportunity for them to raise new points; and would certainly result in delay if we allowed sufficient time for a report of the Peking discussion to get back to N.C.N.A. before approaching them here. If however, it is thought that the need to keep matters of principle to discussions in Peking is of over riding importance, then this principle could be preserved by a simultaneous approach: Peking being on rather more abbreviated lines.

that in

2. If we were to retun to the charge with N.C.N.A. I should prefer to deal first with the number of persons to be visited. We could say that we had learnt from Peking that there had been a genuine misunderstanding due to translation difficulties. Our acceptance of visits to bona fide journalists had been expanded in translation to newspaper employees: and while we were not pleased at this mistake on their part, we accepted it was a genuine misunderstanding and would extend our agreement to include genuine newspaper workers. We would then say that on further consideration we might perhaps be prepared to agree to three visitors, on the understanding that they included two newspaper representatives and one N.C.Ñ.A. wan only in each case, (This is of some importance for practical reasons they have only named two N.Č.N.A. visitors and we were hoping to arrange for one to be in each of the two visiting rooms simultaneously. We do not want to increase the N.C.N.A. presence by having two in each room if it can be avoided).

Thereafter we would argue that the two newspaper boys were not genuine newspaper workers: and would attempt to bargain three visitors against visits to these two boys, conceding both points if necessary once we were sure that neither the thoughts of Kao nor any new issues were being raised by them. We would then present a suggested programme on the basis of whatever was agreed.

CONFIDENTIAL

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4. This may all sound complicated, but the principal object would be to avoid making our concessions until we were pretty sure of some reciprocity from the Chinese side, particularly in relation to the thoughts of kao.

5. Peking, I suggest, should confine their approach to saying we accept the misunderstanding over 'bona fide journalists', but that the number of genuine newspaper workers will remain to be agreed in Hong Kong, as would the number of visitors on which there had been no misunderstanding.

6. You will realise that I go this far with some reluctance at having to accept yet more concessions: nor can I really agree that we are on any weaker ground over the misinterpretation than are the Chinese.

Foreign Office please pass Immediate Peking 135.

Sir D. Trench

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ES No 3:

TELNO 558

27 MARCH, 1968 (F)

FD13/8

CONFIDENTIAL.

ADDRESSED TO HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 558 OF 27 MARCH REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING,

PEKING TELEGRAMS NOS. 239 AND 240: PRISON VISITS.

SINCE THERE DOES SEEM TO HAVE BEEN GENUINE MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT EXACT MEANING OF QUOTE JOURNALISTS UNQUOTE (THE POSSIBILITY OF WHICH YOU NOTED IN YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 366), WE THINK THAT, UNLESS YOU SEE OBJECTION, TALKS WITH N.C.N.A, MIGHT PROCEED ON THE BASIS THAT THEIR LIST OF 21 PRISONERS IS ACCEPTED. THIS MIGHT BE FOLLOWED AFTER SUITABLE SHOW OF HESITATION BY COMPROMISE ON

THREE VISITORS TO EACH PRISONER.

2. WE ARE NEVERTHELESS ANXIOUS NOT TO COMPROMISE ON POINT THAT CATEGORY OF PRISONERS ELIGIBLE FOR SPECIAL VISITS IS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE TO BE DECIDED IN PEKING. SUBJECT TO YOUR AND HOP SON'S VIEWS, WE SUGGEST THEREFORE THAT, SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH (IF NOT PRIOR TO) RESUMPTION OF YOUR TALKS WITH N.C.N.A., HOPSON SHOULD INFORM CHINESE OF DECISION TO ACCEPT THEIR INTERPRETATION ON THIS POINT, REPRESENTING IT ON LINES INDICATED IN PARAGRAPH 2(D) OF PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 240.

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INMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno. 240

CONFIDENTIAL

26 March 1968

Jum 15

Addressed to F.0. telegram No. 240 of 26 March Repeated for information to:

Hong Kong.

Ky immediately preceding telegram: Prison Visits.

513/8

We now face the question whether we should concede the two points, first the inclusion of seven other employees of Wen Hui Pao and second proposed increase in numbers,

Although it is unpalatable to have to give further ground I consider that in the circumstances we should be prepared to make concession on the first point for the following reasons:

(a) there has been an element of genuine misunderstanding. The Chinese term "newspaper worker" seems to have been regularly trans- lated into English by the Chinese interpreters in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as "journalist". Equally our references to "bona fide journalists" have probably been translated the same way. therefore on weak ground for arguing that the Chinese are seeking to misinterpret original agreement.

We are

(b) The degree of discrimination in favour of a certain group of political prisoners will be no greater than if we include the seven. We shall still be within the category of newspaper workers, if not of reporters and journalists in the English sense of the word.

(c) We seem to be within sight of agreement on prison visits, N.C.N.A. Hong Kong have dropped dangerous demand of meetings in groups. Hsueh reiterated that if Hong Kong meetings were arranged Chinese would consider a visit to Grey and the argument for getting access to Grey is to my mind a very strong one. My strong impression is that Peking wishes to settle on the question of prison visits, but that they wish to leave details in the hands of NCNA Hong Kong.

(d) We might present this as evidence of our readiness to take concrete steps to improve relations in Hong Kong as suggested by Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs' statement of 8 March.

Kong

As regards second print (the number of visitors), I think we could agree to three and stick at that point. At the conclusion of interview Hsueh said "not less than three" but I think NCNA Hong Kong might well settle for three if we grant them the point in paragraph 2 above.

F.0. pass Immediate Hong Kong 167.

Sir D. Hopson

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Telno 239

PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

26 March 1968

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ki PARGLIVES No.31

30 APR 1968

FD13/8

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 239 of 25 March. Repeated for information to Hong Kong.

Your telegram No. 283: Prison Visits.

Jupal/5-

I saw Hsueh Deputy Director of Western Europe this afternoon and spoke on the lines suggested.

Hsuch replied NCNA's request to Political Adviser for visits to 21 prisoners was reasonable because Chinese side had repeatedly made clear that they were talking about NCNA correspondents (Chi Che) and other patriotic "journalists" (he used term Hsin Wen Kung Tso Che, which means literally "news workers"). The 21 men in question were all included in this category. Therefore Hong Kong authorities should meet Chinese request. On the number of visitors Hsueh said that it was reasonable for NCNA to ask for more than two visitors per prisoner because even on regular prison visits a prisoner was allowed three visitors at a time so why should it be fewer than three in the case of special visits? The Hong Kong authorities should also accept Chinese request on this point.

I replied, so far as prisoners to be visited was concerned it was not for us a question of numbers but a question of category. It might be that for reasons of translation there had been a genuine misunderstanding. We had spoken of "journalists". The Chinese had evidently been using a term of wider definition. On this, and on Chinese request for three visitors per prisoner, I undertook to report to you what Hsueh had said.

4. Hsuch repeated the view that such questions as number of visitors per prisoner were better discussed in Hong Kong but added that it was à matter of principle for Chinese that number be no less than three.

See my immediately following telegram.

Foreign Office pass Immediate to Hong Kong No. 166.

Sir D. Hopson

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Telno 234

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CONFIDENTIAL

FOREIGN OFFICE

25 March 1968

104) 20

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30 APR 1968

F013/8

Addressed to Hong Kong telegram No. 164 of 25 March,

Repeated for information to Foreign Office.

Foreign Office telegram No. 283 to me. [Prison Visits)

Paragraph 2. Do you agree?

Sir D. Hopson

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palls

25 March 1968

Telno 368

CONFIDENTIAL

(03) 1:

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MiVES No.31

JO APR 1958

FD13/8

Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No. 368 of

25 March, Repeated for information to Peking.

Your telegram No. 283 [to Peking]: Prison Visits,

Paragraph 4: We have already told N.C.N.A. that a member of the Political Advisers Office would be present at entry to the prison (repeat prison) to ensure that there was no difficulties about entry procedure etc. This seema common sense. We added

however that representative would not wish to be present at actual interview with the prisoners although these would have to be attended by a prison officer.

Paragraph 2 of Peking telegram No. 164: We are quite prepared (please see my telegram No. 366 paragraph 3) to consider allowing 3 visits but we have been anxious not to play this card until it seems likely that we would have something in exchange,

Sir D. Trench

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102

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PRIORITY HONG KONG

Telno. 366

23 March 1968

100

CONFIDENTIAL

Addressed Commonwealth Office telegram No. 366

of 23 March.

Repeated for information to Peking.

My telegram No. 363: Prison Visits.

It seems possible that there has been a genuine misunderstanding about which prisoners are eligible for

Kuch depends on how the phrase "bona fide journalists" was translated in Peking.

visits.

2. A second contention of the NCNA representatives here is that nothing was actually "agreed" in Peking except the principle of "special visits" to "patriotic newspaper employees": They therefore maintain that they are on firm ground in asking e.g. that the number of visitors should be four.

In fact there are not now great differences between the two sides (except on the question of Mao's thoughts). If there seemed some prospect of satisfactorily settling the point about eligibility for visits we should be prepared to consider allowing at any rate three visitors.

4. We should be grateful for Peking's comments on points in paragraphs 1 and 2: and for views on whether in present circumstances it would be worthwhile going back to the M.F.A. on the lines proposed in paragraph 2 of Peking telegram No.225.

Foreign Office pass Priority Peking 127.

Sir D. Trench

[Repetition to Peking referred for Departmental

decision]

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TELNO. 283

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FOREIGN OFFICE ΤΟ PEKING

22 MARCH 1968

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100

CONFIDENTIAL

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NO 283 OF 22 MARCH REPEATED FOR INFORM- ATION TO HONG KONG

HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO 363 TO C.O. : PRISON VISITS.

FROM THESE FURTHER EXCHANGES IT IS CLEAR THAT EITHER KNOWINGLY OR THROUGH MISUNDERSTANDING N.C.N.A. ARE GOING BEYOND THE TERMS ORIGINALLY AGREED IN PEKING. UNLESS YOU SEE OBJECTION, PLEASE THEREFORE APPROACH THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AS SUGGESTED IN PARAGRAPH 2 OF YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 225, AND POINT OUT THAT THE N.C.N.A. APPEAR TO BE CALLING IN QUESTION MATTERS OF PRINCIPLE WHICH IT WAS AGREED SHOULD BE SETTLED IN PEKING, YOU SHOULD RECALL YOUR EARLIER DISCUSSIONS (YOUR TELEGRAMS NOS. 84, 98, 152 AND 178) IN WHICH REPEATED AND SPECIFIC REFERENCES WERE MADE TO QUOTE PATRIOTIC JOURNALISTS UNQUOTE AND SAY THAT THE N.C.N.A. WERE NOW SEEKING TO EXTEND VISITS TO ALL QUOTE PATRIOTIC NEWSPAPER EMPLOYEES UNQUOTE. YOU MIGHT ADD THAT YOU HAD PARTICULARI Y STRESSED (PARAGRAPH 4 OF YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 152) THAT JOURNALISTS MUST BE BONE FIDE. THIS WAS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE ON WHICH THERE COULD BE NO NEGOTIATION IN HONG KONG AND ON WHICH WE COULD NOT GIVE GROUND. WE THEREFORE HOPED THAT THE POSITION COULD BE MADE CLEAR TO N.C.N.A. IMMEDIATELY SO THAT DISCUSSIONS IN HONG KONG COULD PROCEED.

YOU MIGHT ALSO REFER TO N.C.N.A. HAVING QUERIED THE NUMBER OF VISITORS TO EACH PRISONER. THIS WAS ALSO A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE ON WHICH OUR POSITION HAD BEEN MADE CLEAR (YOUR TELEGRAM NO.152) IF THE CHINESE SHOW NO STRONG DISPOSITION TO CONTEST THIS, YOU SHOULD SHOW NO WILI RGNESS TO COMPROMISE IF HOWEVER THE MATTER SEEMS LIKELY TO PROVE A STICKING POINT YOU MAY, SUBJECT TO CONFIRM- ATION BY THE GOVERNOR, INDICATE THAT WE WOULD BE PREPARED TO ALLOW THREE VISITORS. THERE ARE ALREADY PRECEDENTS FOR THIS.

CONFIDENTIAL

/ 3. ON MATTERS

זי

نا

CONFIDENTIAL

3. ON MATTERS OF DETAIL TO BE SETTLED IN HONG KONG, WE CONSIDER THERE SHOULD BE NO CONCESSIONS OVER FOOD-STUFFS OR MAO'S WORKS (UNLESS THE LATTER CAN BE DEALT WITH AS SUGGESTED IN YOUR TELEGRAM NO.225 WITHOUT INVOLVING THE RISK MENTIONED IN PARAGRAPH 3 OF HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO.354)

IN THE LIGHT OF PARAGRAPHS 1 AND 2 OF HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 357, WE DOUBT WHETHER IT IS WORTH CONTESTING THE CHINESE REQUEST THAT A MEMBER OF THE POLITICAL ADISER'S OFFICE BE PRESENT

DURING VISITS.

SOSFA

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TO CONMONWEALTH OFF ICS

TIMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMDER 365

22 MARCH 1968

100

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VES No.31

→ APR 1968

CONFIDENTIAL

F01378

ADDRESSED CO TELEGRAM NO. 363 OF 22ND MARCH REPEATED PEKING.

AY TELEGRAM NO. 357: PRISON VISITS.

A FURTHER MEETING WAS HELD WITH CHA ON MARCH 21ST. POLITICAL ADVISER PUT FORWARD A PROGRANNE CWORKED OUT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE POINTS MADE IN PEKING ON THE LIVES OF PARA. 1(A) CF YOUR TELEGRAM 10, 347) FOR VISITS EARLY NEXT WEEK TO 14 OF THE PRISONERS. HE POINTED OUT THAT OF CHINESE LIST OF 22 ONE HAD ALREADY BEEN RELEASED SEMICOLON 5 VERE LABOURERS (EMPLOYED SY WEN WEI PAO) AND 2 CAGED 17 AND 14) WERE NEWSPAPER SELLERS ONLY. NONE OF THESE WERE DONAFIDE JOURNALISTS AND THEY WERE THEREFORE INELIGIBLE FOR VISITS UNDER THE PEKING PROPOSALS.

2. NCHA CONCEDE THE IMPORTANT POINT THAT VISITS SHOULD BE TO INDIVIDUALS, NOT GROUPS. BUT THEY SAID THAT THE PROGRAMME WAS UNACCEPTABLE BECAUSE:-

CAD THEY CONSIDERED THE NUMBER OF VISITORS SHOULD BE FOUR

NOT TWO. CTHEY POINTED OUT THAT THREE PEOPLE MIGHT GO ON NORMAL VISITS TO PRISONERS).

(3) THEIR INSTRUCTIONS WERE THAT ALL 'PATRIOTIC NEWSPAPER EMPLOYEES' VERE ELIGIBLE FOR VISITS.

IN ADDITION, THEY REPEATED CTHOUGH WITHOUT MUCH ARGUMENT) THE IR DEHAND (0) TO DE ALLOWED TO BRING IN THE WORKS OF MAO AS GIFTS TO PRISONERS.

CONFIDENTI AL

/3. POLITICAL

CONFIDENTIAL

- 2.

3. POLITICAL ADVISER SAID THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO REPORT THE SITUATIO!! BACK. POINTS CA) AND (B) ABOVE WERE BASIC PARTS OF THE PROPOSAL MADE IN PEKING AND WE HAD NO AUTHORITY TO DEPART FROM THEM IN HONG KONG. ON POINT (C) WE WERE NOT PREPARED TO CIVE WAY.

4. ONLY A FEW OTHER MINOR POINTS ARE OUTSTANDING. NONA REPRESENT- ATIVES WERE REASONABLE AND SEENED ANXIOUS TO SETTLE QUICKLY WITHOUT FURTHER REFERENCE TO MFA. HOWEVER, THEY WILL NO DOUBT FEEL OBLIGED TO REPORT BACK TO PEKING, AS THERE WAS OBVIOUS DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN OUR TWO VIEWS OF WHAT CONSTITUTED 'DETAILS' TO BE SETTLED HERE, AS WELL AS WHAT HAD ALREADY BEEN SETTLED IN PEKING.

FO PLEASE PASS IMMEDIATE PEKING AS MYTEL 124.

SIR D. TRE.CH

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TELNO 357

CONFIDENTIAL

COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

20 MARCH 1968

Java 1/2

FD1378

ADDRESSED TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TELEGRAM NO. 357 OF 20 MARCH REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING

PEKING TELEGRAM NO. 153 TO H.K.: PRISON VISITS.

WE AGREE IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE CHINESE ARE INSISTING ON A

MEMBER OF THE P.A.'S OFFICE BEING PRESENT DURING THE VISITS

PARTLY IN ORDER TO CLAIM A SIMILAR RIGHT WITH GREY, THOUGH

WE BELIEVE THE REQUEST PROBABLY ALSO HAD THE GENUINE AIN

CAS THE NONA REPRESENTATIVES TOLD US) OF AVOIDING MISUNDERSTANDINGS

AND ARGUMENTS AT THE ACTUAL TIME OF THE VISITS.

2. IT WOULD IN ANY CASE BE NECESSARY FOR US TO HAVE A PRISON

WARDER IN ATTENDANCE-DURING NONA VISITS, TO GUARD AGAINST

HISBEHAVIOUR AS WELL AS PHOTOGRAPHY. THUS WE FEAR THAT CHINESE

WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY INSIST ON SIMILAR PRESENCE DURING ANY

VISIT TO GREY.

3. WE SHALL OFFER NONA AT LEAST 15 MINUTES PER PRISONER. THOUGH

CHINESE HAY INDEED RELATE THE LENGTH OF TIME OF NONA VISITS

DIRECTLY TO VISIT

VISIT TO GREY, TOTAL LENGTH OF TIME OF INDIVIDUAL

NCNA VISITS WOULD AMOUNT ON THE 15-MINUTE BASIS TO MORE THAN

TWO AND A HALF HOURS, AND THIS COULD PERHAPS BE USED TO COUNTER

THE CHINESE ARGUMENTS ON LINES PEKING SUGGEST.

FO PLEASE PASS IMMEDIATE PEKING AS MYTEL 123.

SIR D. TRENCH

[REPETITION TO PEKING REFERRED

FOR DEPARTMENTAL DECISION]

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IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno 225

CONFIDENTIAL

20 March 1968

تا

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982.

ARCHIVES No 31

30 APR 1968

F713/8

Ja parki

ра

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 225 of 20 March Repeated for information to Hong Kong.

Hong Kong telegram No. 354: Prison Visits.

I agree for the time being at least we should maintain our position on points in paragraph 1 and paragraph 3 of telegram under reference, I agree concession on 1(b) would be dangerous. The request for gift of Mao's works might be met by painting out that these can be sent under normal rules for reading matter (if this is in fact the case. See Hong Kong telegram No. 670 to me of 1967).

2. I agree that we should make definite proposal of a first visit on the lines acceptable to us. I think it would be best to do this fairly soon rather than to wait because of deportation issue. If NŒNA reject the proposal I could go back to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, re-affirming our readiness to arrange visits as stated at the interview of 1 March and point out that NCNA are seeking to add new terms to agreement reached in Peking.

Foreign Office please pass Hong Kong Immediate 157.

Sir D. Hopson

[Repeated as requested)

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TELNO 354

CONFIDENTIAL

19 MARCH 1968

ADDRESSED CO TELEGRAM NO. 354 OF 19TH MARCH RPTD PEKING.

MY TELEGRAM NO. 333.

RECEIVED IN

(ARCHIVES N6.31

30 Ark 1968

FD13/8

Apa 1/5

OF THE TWO POINTS CPARAGRAPH 3 OF NY TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE)

RAISED BY N.C.N.A. WHICH RUN COUNTER TO WHAT WAS PROPOSED BY

H.M. CHARGE D'AFFAIRES IN PEKING,

(A) THE REQUEST FOR A LARGER NUMBER OF VISITORS COULD BE

MET BY CONCEDING THREE INSTEAD OF TWO (THIS IS THE NUMBER

THAT HAVE BEEN PERMITTED TO VISIT COMMUNIST BANK EMPLOYEES) .

SEMICOLON

(B) VISITS TO GROUPS RATHER THAN INDIVIDUALS RAISES A SUBSTANTIAL

DIFFICULTY. TO CONCEDE THIS POINT WOULD SET US ON A SLIPPERY SLOPE

AND CREATE DIFFICULTIES FOR PRISON AUTHORITIES.

2. SINCE THE FORMAL POSITION IS THAT MATTERS OF PRINCIPLE

SHOULD BE SETTLED IN PEKING AND DETAILS ONLY DISCUSSED IN HONG

KONG, I FEEL THAT FOR TIME BEING WE SHOULD MAINTAIN OUR POSITION

OM BOTH THESE POINTS. TO GIVE WAY ON (A) WOULD PREJUDICE OUR

POSITION ON (B).

3. IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE TO FIND SATISFACTORY METHODS OF

HEETING NOST OF THE OTHER POINTS OF DETAIL, EXCEPT FOR THE REQUEST

ABOUT GIFTS TO PRISONERS. I AM VERY UNWILLING TO GIVE WAY ON THE

CONFIDENTIAL

مس

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-2-

CUESTION OF HAO'S WORKS SEMICOLON FOR THERE IS AN OBVIOUS RISK THAT THEY WOULD BE USED FOR STAGING DEMONSTRATIONS IN PRISON.

PERMISSION TO PRESENT OTHER THINGS SUCH AS FOODSTUFFS ETC.

DOES RAISE THE QUESTION OF DISCRIMINATION IN AN ACUTE FORM

SEMICOLON AND I CAN SEE NO WAY OF MAKING CONCESSIONS ON THIS

POINT EITHER.

4. THERE MAY BE SOME ADVANTAGE IN LETTING THE DUST SETTLE ON THE DEPORTATION ISSUE BEFORE RENEWING THESE DISCUSSIONS ON PRISON VISITS. BUT I WOULD BE PREPARED TO ARRANGE ANOTHER MEETING

IN TWO OR THREE DAYS TIME AND THEN MAKE A DEFINITE PROPOSAL THAT A FIRST VISIT CONDUCTED ON LINES ACCEPTABLE TO US SHOULD

TAKE PLACE AT A TIME THAT WE SHALL PROPOSE. WE WOULD TRY TO LEAVE THE COMMUNISTS WITH THE ONUS OF ACCEPTING OR REJECTING THIS

PROPOSAL.

FO PLEASE PASS INMEDIATE PEKING AS TEL 122.

SIR D. TRENCH

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ELEGRAM NUMBER 393

15 MARCH 1968

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ADDRESSED CO TELNO 333 OF 15TH MARCH RFI PEKING.

RECEIVED" Itin

ES NO

50 R 1868

FD13/2

Ja pas

OUR TELEGRAM 314 : PRISON VISITS.

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.

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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FOREIGN OFFICE PLEASE PASS IMMEDIATE PEKING. 110.

SIR D. TRENCH

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FD1373

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

Telno 314

CONFIDENTIAL

COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

13 March 1968

の

Japa

FD1378

ри

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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30 APR 968

COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

11 March 1968

501378

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

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IMMEDIATE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NO. 427

8 MARCH, 1968 (HWB)

927

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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

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.

SUBJECT TO YOUR AND PEKING'S VIEWS, WE SEE NO REASON TO DEFER ACTION ON DEPORTATION OF FILM STARS (OUR TELEGRAM NO 404 REFERS).

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ΤΟ

Telno 152

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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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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PRIORITY

PEKING

Telno 356

FOREIGN OFICE

27 April 1968

1/5 pa

RECEVED IN

?ARCHIVES No.31

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?

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

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.

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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TO COTTONWEALTH OFFICE

TELEGRAM NO. 522

RESTRICTED

25 APRIL 1958

אן סני

¡AR

V-> No.31

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.

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

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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

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Telno. 453

تنا

RECEIVED IN

Pr EnjARCHIVES N. 31

1YAPR 1968

COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

9 April 1968

FD13%8

14/4

CONFIDENTIAL

Addressed Commonwealth Office telegram No. 453 of 9 April. Repeated for information to Peking.

Ky telegram No, 425: Prison Visits.

Visits took place at Stanley this morning as arranged. 13 prisoners were visited as two more Wen Wei Pao labourers were released on 5 April on completion of sentence. Two female journalists will be visited tomorrow at Laichikok prison.

Some of the prisoners had visits lasting up to 30 minutes. Length of visits totalled 6 hours 20 minutes in all. No photography or gifts were allowed. and a prison official was present. Assistant Political Adviser supervised entry. No difficulties arose.

3. KCKA agreed to repect confidential nature of talks, but will probably publicise actual visits. Our line with the Press will be:-

(a) Visits were arranged at the discretion of the Commissioner of Prisons.

(b) Arrangements were co-ordinated with the people concerned through our normal chancels.

(c) If question of connexion with Grey case is raised we are saying simply that case was not considered here; but that visits reflected improved atmosphere in Sino-Hong Kong relations which government is naturally anxious to promote.

Commonwealth Office pass Priority Peking 165.

Sir D. Trench

¡Repetition to Peking referred for

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Telno. 218

CONFIDENTIAL

FOREIGN OFFICE

19 March 1968

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

19 MAR 1968

FD1378

CONFIDENTIAL

Addressed to Hong Kong telegram No. 153 of 19 March. Repeated for information to Foreign Office,

Visits.

Your telegram No. 333 to Commonwealth Office: Prison

It is possible' that NCNA are insisting on members of P.A.'s office being present during the prison visits, in order that Chinese can claim the right to attend any interview we may get with Grey.

From our point of view therefore there would be advantage in resisting NCNA on this though we would not wish to press the point if it makes things awkward for you.

The length of time for which the Chinese permit us to see Grey is likely to be related directly to the amount of time you allow prison visitors.

Foreign Office pass Hong Kong 153.

Sir D. Hopson

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ED 1318

MEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno 153

CONFIDENTIAL

1 March, 1968

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 153 of 1 March, Repeated for information to Hong Kong

My immediately preceding telegram.

After discussing prison visits I raised with Hsueh our porposal to swap Hsueh P'ing for Grey. I reminded him that this proposal had now been made on an official basis and asked if he had had any reply for me. He said he had noted our proposal, but today he had no news.

F.0. pass immediate Hong Kong 100.

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CONFIDENTIAL.

IATE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ΤΟ TONG KONG

346

28 FEBRUARY 1968 (F.E.D.)

۱۰

RECEN TO IN ARCHIV: - No.31

29 FEB No68

FD13/8

(

با

CENTIAL.

LED TO HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO 346 OF 28 FEBRUARY REPEATED FOR

TO PEKING.

FOLEGRAM NO 241: PRISCH VISITO.

TIPT THE COURSE OF ACTION IN PARAGRAPHS 5 AND 6 OF YOUR TEL E36/7

*EFERENCE SUBJECT TO THE MODIFICATIONS:

·BSTITUTION IN PARAGRAPH 5 OF AN ADDITIONAL VISIT' FOR ECIAL VISIT TO EACH INDIVIDUAL. (THIS WOULD ALSO INVOLVE TAN ION OF THE WORDS AS A SPECIAL CONCESSION'' AND CONSEQUENTIAL EATS N THE SECOND SENTENCE OF PARAGRAPH 1(A) OF OUR TELEGRAM

LETION IN PARAGRAPH 6 OF THE WORDS AFTER AGREEMENT ON THE

2 IN PEKING*'. SINCE WE ATTACH IMPORTANCE TO RESTRICTING THE

TO BONA FIDE JOURNALISTS, WE DO NOT SEE HOW IT WOULD BE LE TO GET AGREEMENT ON NUMBERS IN PEKING BEFORE YOU HAVE FRED A LIST OF NAMES IN HONG KONG. WE AGREE WITH YOU

MUST NOT GIVE THE CHINESE IN PEKING THE IMPRESSION THAT - FREFARED TO ALLOW VISITS TO AN UNLIMITED NUMBER (PARAGRAPH

OUR TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE) BUT WE WOULD HOPE THAT THIS IS

HAVING THE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES IN PEKING STRESS THAT THE - CONCERNED MUST BE BONA FIDE JOURNALISTS.

A PARAGRAPH 1

REGOING TAKES CARE OF YOUR POINTS (THE) AND (V). WE ENTIRELY

THAT YOUR POINTS (HI), (IV) AND (VI) ARE MATTERS FOR YOUR 'STRATIVE DECISION IN THE LIGHT OF CIRCUMSTANCES AS THEY

R PARAGRAPH 2.

THE FORCE OF YOUR ARGUMENTS ABOUT THE RISKS OF SUBSTANTIVE >SION IN HONG KONG. HOWEVER CONDITIONS (1) TO (1V) IN

APH 5 OF YOUR TELEGRAM NO 212 WOULD NOW BE MADE IN PEKING THE MODIFIED APPROACH IN PARAGRAPH 1 ABOVE, AND YOU HAVE

THAT CONDITION (V) NEED NOT BE MADE SPECIFICALLY. THE ONLY

- LOW LEFT OPEN, WHICH MIGHT HAVE TO BE HANDLED IN HONG KONG,

CONFIDENTTAL

/(A)

יו

CONFIDENTIAL

ww2

) THE POSSIBILITY OF VISITS BY NONA ALONE. (IF THE CHINESE ASK

DONALD HOPSON WHETHER VISITS BY MCNA ALONE ARE TO BE ALLOWED, HE ULD AT THIS STAGE CONFIME HIMSELF TO SAYING THAT HIS INSTRUCTIONS E THAT AN NCNA REPRESENTATIVE WILL BE ALLOWED TO ACCOMPANY

E EMPLOYER IN EACH CASE. IF THE CHINESE CONTINUE TO PRESS THIS INT, WE WOULD THEN CONSIDER WITH YOU AND DECIDE WHETHER IT WAS TTER HANDLED IN PEKING OR HONG KONG).:

@) THE BONA FIDES OF NAMES ON THE CHINESE LIST

AND A DECISION

THIS MUST IN THE FINAL INSTANCE REST WITH YOU IN HONG KONG. YOUR PARAGRAPH 4.

FULLY SHARE YOUR WISH TO MINIMISE THE PROPAGANDA OPPORTUNITIES

→ THE CHINESE, AND WE HOPE THAT THE SUBSTITUTION PROPOSED IN RAGRAPH 1(A) ABOVE HELPS TO MEET YOUR POINT,

AS THIS HAS BECOME SO INVOLVED, M.I.F.T. SETS OUT THE PLAN OF TION FOR HOPSON IN TELEGRAM NO 324 REVISED IN ACCORDANCE WITH

IS TELEGRAM, HOPSON IS BEING INSTRUCTED TO APPROACH THE CHINESE

SOON AS YOU HAVE CONFIRMED THAT YOU HAVE NO OBJECTION TO THE

MAGES.

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28 FEB 10683

LOCESS TO COLUNIST PRISONERS IN HONG KONG

DO MR. GREY

FD13/8

Froblem

The Governor has suggested some modifications to our

proposals about how the matter of access to prisoners should

be handled in Hong Kong and Peking; but he also takes the

opportunity to repeat his warning that the concessions and

arrangements may run us into dangerous repercussions in Hong

Kong. His suggestions involve a rather more precise statement

in Peking of the conditions under which we are prepared to

allow visits to prisoners in Hong Kong, but they do not radically

alter the substance of our approach. The Chargé d'Affaires in

Feking has proposed one modification

and ourselves

acceptable to the Governor

and has pressed for early instructions. The crux

of the matter remains whether the importance we attach to

obtaining access to Kr. Grey justifies the risks involved in

the concessions we would be making to the Chinese over access

to prisoners in Hong Kong-

Recommendation

I recommend that

(a) we accept the Governor's proposed modifications,

particularly since they seem to go some way towards

reducing the risks in Hong Kong to which he has

drawn attention;

(b) subject to the Governor's final concurrence, we now

instruct Sir Donald Hopson to take action with the

/Chinaan.

COMETRUTTAT:

CONFIDENTIAL

F1:

Chinese.

I attach draft telegrams to Hong Kong and Peking. Commonwealth

office have already concurred.

Background and Argument

3. The background is set out in my submission of 22 February.

Our proposals, on which the Governor has now commented, are

Flag., I, in C.0. telegrams 323, 324 and 325 to Hong Kong.

F1:

Fla J

4. The Governor has from the start been most reluctant to

allow N.C.N.A. access to non-N.C.N.A. Journalists in prison.

He has, however, already accepted (as he acknowledges in

paragraph 1 of his telegram No. 241) that access to Mr. Gray

is a compelling reason for special treatment of the latter

category. The points at issue in telegram No. 241 are therefore

not of principle (though he takes the occasion to remind us

strongly that he conceded the issue of principle only reluctantly),

but a matter of tactics. The Governor has from the outset been

anxious that we should spell out in detail to the Chinese in Peking the conditions under which we were prepared to allow

visits. Eis concern was that if we did not do so and there

were subsequently difficulties over detail in Hong Kong, we

would be charged by the Chinese with bad faith. Sir Donald

Hopson has thought that detailed points were better dealt with

in Hong Kong (paragraph of Peking telegram No. 133). Pre-

sumably he has been concerned lest the whole exercise might

founder on an argument over detail in Peking. For reasons set

out in paragraph 3 of Commonwealth Office telegram No. 325,

the Commonwealth Office and ourselves decided on balance that

/it

CONFIDENTIAT

Fla

CONFIDENTIAL

-3-

it would be better that discussion of detailed arrangements

should take place in Hong Kong. However the arguments advanced

in paragraph 2 of Hong Kong telegram No. 241 about the risks

of substantive discussion in Hong Kong are impressive.

think therefore that we should be prepared to meet the Governor

over this; in particular I think he is right in stressing that

we should avoid entering into any commitment with the Chinese

about more than a single visit to each prisoner until we have

achieved the quid pro quo in respect of kr. Grey.

5. The Governor's proposals meet the only point of substance

which Sir D. Hopson raised (in Peking telegram No. 147) on

our original proposals. I sent a personal message to Sir D.

Hopson that we would get instructions to him as soon as possible,

but that they could not arrive in time for action on 27 February •

The risks which the proposed concessions and arrangements

involve are discussed in paragraph 9 of my submission of

22 February, to which I have nothing to add. In view of the importance of obtaining access to Mr. Gray, I think it is right to accept them. As I see it, the purpose of the Governor in his latest telegram has not been to call in question the decision

that the and Sir D. Hopson of principle, but to remind us

difficulties he has been making are not merely obstructiveness

on his part.

-ies to:

Jun Murray.

(James Murray)

27 February, 1968

Incussed with the ledgers who appare

Sir D. Allen

diefer bls.

Vr. Carter

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Sir D. Allen

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

28 FEB 1968

FD13/8

ACCESS TO DR. GREY AND COMMUNIST PRISONERS IN

HONG KONG

Problem

The Chinese have indicated that they may be prepared to

grant access to Mr. Grey if representatives of the New China News Agency (N.C.N.A.) in Hong Kong are allowed to make formal

visits to

(a) two imprisoned N.C.N.A. journalists and

(b) a number of "other patriotic journalists" in

prison in Hong Kong.

The Governor has always been prepared to grant the first, but fears that agreement to the second would create precedents for N.C.N.A. to act in a quasi-consular role and would also dis- originate unfairly between different categories of prisoners.

Recommendation

I recommend that

(a) N.C.N.A. should be allowed to make a special visit

to the two N.C.N.A. journalists;

(b) the employers of other journalists should be allowed

to make special visits accompanied by a representa- tive of N.C.N.A., and that N.C.N.A. should be allowed to stand in for the employer if the latter is

unavailable;

way that the minimum is conceded towards a quasi-

consular status for N.C.N.A.

ÖCÜFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTAL

I attach draft telegrams to Peking and Hong Kong. A parallel

submission is being made in the Commonwealth Office.

Background and Argument

る。 There are two.N.C.N.A. journalists in prison in Hong

Kong together with at least twelve other communist journalists.

It is not, however, absolutely clear how many people the

Chinese consider to be in the category of "patriotic journalisty"

(Hong Kong telegram No. 185). In common with other prisoners these people all receive visits once a month from relatives or friends, and the N.C.N.A. journalists have already been visited by representatives of their organisation in the guise of friends. 4. Despite these regular visits the Chinese have since July, 1967, insisted that official visits should be allowed to the

N.C.N.A. journalists and since December, 1967, that official visits by N.C.N.A. in Hong Kong should be allowed to the "patriotic journalists" as well. They have used the failure to agree to such official visits as an excuse for not granting

access to Mr. Grey.

5. On 22 December the N.C.N.A. in Hong Kong demanded that official visits should be allowed to the N.C.N.A. and "patriotic journalists" and prisoners from other communist organisations (Hong Kong telegram No. 1908). They also demanded that they should be allowed to bring food and clothing to the prisoners.

These visits were to be made at the time of Chinese New Year

(30 January) and the communist press began a campaign of propaganda about ill-treatment of prisoners with the clear*

/intention

CONFIDENTIAL,

CONFIDENTIAL

-3-

intention of using the visits as part of their propaganda

barrage. The Governor said that Hong Kong's prison rules

only allowed visits on the application of the prisoners them-

selves, that clothing could only be left for a prisoner on

release and that extra food for prisoners could not be allowed (Hong Kong telegram No. 1908). When these points were put to

the Chinese in Peking on 31 December they said that the reply

was unsatisfactory. In particular, they said they could not agree that applications for visits must come from the prisoners themselves. They added that, if their demands were met, "they

might consider allowing the British Office to send personnel

to visit Hr. Gray "(Peking telegram No. 1).

6. On 28 January the Chinese made a further approach and

said in effect that, if official visits by N.C.N.A. were allowed

to N.C.N.A. and other "patriotic journalists", they could

"consider arrangements for an official British visit to Mr. Grey" (Peking telegram No. 84). Sir Donald Hopeon took this to mean that a visit to Hr. Grey would in the event be arranged, although this was by no means certain since the Chinese could have reverted to their third demand (visits to other "patriotic"

prisoners) before allowing access to him. The Governor agreed to allow visits to the N.C.N.A. journalists but not to the others (Hong Kong telegram No. 132); the N.C.N.A. did not take up the suggestion about how such visits might be made and the

matter was dropped.

7. The Governor (whom we asked to reconsider the matter) has

now put forward suggestions which go some way towards meeting

/the

•

CONFIDENTIAL.

CONFIDENTIAL

the Chinese demands (Hong Kong telegram No. 212). He is prepared, albeit with reluctance, to agree that, besides official visits to N.C.N.A. journalists, official visits should also be allowed by their employers to other "patriotic journalists". He is prepared to hint that representatives of N.C.N.A. could accompany the employers. He is, however, under- standably anxious that the N.C.N.A. should not arrogate to itself a quasi-consular status in demanding right of access to a wide range of prisoners. The fear that N.C.N.A. may build itself into an alternative focus of loyalty in Hong Kong is long-standing and well-founded.

8. As Sir D. Hopson has potated out (Peking telegram No. 133) the Governor's suggestions go only part of the way towards meeting the Chinese demanda and I agree with him in thinking that, put in this form, they would almost certainly fail to secure our prime objective: access to Mr. Grey. He has recommended strongly that we should meet the Chinese on all

their points and believe that, if we do so, we have a very

good chance of succeeding.

9. I am not myself fully convinced that the Chinese will not produce further "demands" before agreeing to access to Nr. Grej,

Access to but I think it is very important that we test then. Kr. Grey is an urgent necessity and at the very worst, if the move fails, we shall at least know that the Chinese are not seriously interested in a reasonable quid pro que for visits. There are, however, dangers in agreeing to the Chinese demande

Besides the obvious une of which Kinisters should be aware.

/02

•

}

COHETDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

- 5-

of whetting the Chinese appetite for further concessions,

these are:

(a) By equating visits to Mr. Grey with visits to

more than the two N.C.N.A. journalists, we

make it likely that an exchange, if it can

be arranged, will have to be on the same basis.

This would not matter much if all the journalists

could be deported to China; but it would be

unacceptable if the Chinese demanded instead

that they should be released in Hong Kong.

(b) We are conceding that the N.C.N.A. are in a

special relationship to members of other organisations in Hong Kong (who may even be British citizens); in the past they have acted

mainly as an intermediary for the Chinese Govern-

ment. This could be the thin edge of the wedge

and will need handling with care. We must ensure

that the Governor retains the right to decide who is properly in the category of those to whom visits

can be allowed.

10. Despite all the difficulties, I think we must try to use visits in Hong Kong as a means of securing acoess to Mr. Grey. This will nean persuading the Governor to go a little further than he has at present offered to do. He will have to be given

In the a chance to comment before a decision is finally made. attached telegrams I have suggested a way in which the opera- tion might be handled, providing that the Governor and Sir D.

Hopson agree.

/11.

CONFIDENTIAL

-6.

11.

Although we are still waiting for a reply to the approach

made to the Chinese on 7 February about visa problems for our

Mission and Chinese intentions with regard Mr. Grey (including

the suggestion of an exchange), Sir D. Hopson does not think

that a separate approach now on prison visits would cut across

the exercise. I agreei it could even provide us with an

opportunity to prod the Chinese into replying to our proposals

of 7 February.

12. It must be recognised that the proposed approach, even if

it fails, is as far as we should go in making concessions in

Hong Kong to gain access to Mr. Grey. To go any further might

we would be abandoning

put at risk our position in Hong Kong;

the policy of firmness which in our dealings with the Chinese

over the Colony has brought us through the recent troubles,

and we would be encouraging Chinese hopes that we can still

be pushed into making substantial concessions there. for the

sake of our Mission and other British subjects in China,

can be little doubt that the achievement of some form of

"Kacao-type" situation in Hong Kong remains the ultimate Chinese

objective.)

Les to:

Kr. Samuel

Kr. Carter, C.O.

James Humaye.

Hung

(James Murray)

22 February, 1968

In Mr. Rodgers' absence aboveth the draft telec

(There

Consular Department. subject to C.O. clearance.

C.O.

concurred with my wines

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CONFIDENTI AL

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RECAVED IN

4? : #VE; No 31

28FCC

F013/8

T.ILNO. 325

COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG

23 FEBRUARY 1968 (H.K.D. & F.D.)

CONFIDENTIAL.

ADDRESSED TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG TEL NO 325 OF 23/2 REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING,

FOLLOWING FROM GALSWORTHY,

YOUR TELEGRAM NO 234: PRISON VISITS.

YOUR TELEGRAM WAS RECEIVED AFTER OUR TELEGRAMS NOS 323 AND 324

HAD BEEN APPROVED.

WE AND FOREIGN OFFICE FULLY ACCEPT POINT IN LAST SENTENCE OF PARAGRAPH 2 OF YOUR TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE. YOU WILL SEE THAT THIS IS REFLECTED IN PARAGRAPH 6 OF OUR TELEGRAM NO 323.

3. WE REALISE THAT YOU WOULD PREFER THAT NOTIFICATION OF CONDITIONS (+) TO (V) SHOULD FIRST BE MADE TO CHINESE IN PEKING (PARAGRAPH 3 YOUR TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE). WE AND FOREIGN OFFICE HOWEVER

STILL FEEL ON BALANCE THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER THAT THE DISCUSSION

WE OF DETAILED ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD TAKE PLACE IN HONG KONG. RECOGNISE THAT WHEREVER THE NOTIFICATION IS MADE THERE IS RISK OF FURTHER ARGUMENT ABOUT THE CONDITIONS, AND ALSO OF CONFUSION

BUT BY THE CHINESE IN TRANSMISSION BETWEEN PEKING AND NCNA, CIR ASSESSMENT IS THAT ON THE WHOLE THE BEST CHANCE OF SETTLING THIS ASPECT OF THE MATTER LIES IN DIRECT EXCHANGES WITH N CNA ** HONG KONG. WE TAKE POINT IN LAST SENTENCE OF YOUR PARAGRAPH 3.

SUGGEST THAT HOPSON SHOULD ADD (PARAGRAPH 1(A) OF OUR TELEGRAM 324) THAT THE SPECIAL VISITS WOULD BE SUBJECT TO SATISFACTORY GREEMENT ON ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS BETWEEN THE POLITICAL ADVISER YD NG NA. A PHRASE OF THIS SORT WOULD GIVE SOME PROTECTION

INST CHARGES OF BAD FAITH IF THE CHINESE PRODUCED A LIST OF SUCH LENGTH THAT IT COULD NOT BE ACCEPTED IN TOTO AND THE WHOLE

RANGEMENT BROKE DOWN IN CONSEQUENCE.

CONFIDENTIAL

14.

CONFIDENTIAL

CCTORWEALTH OFFICE TELEGRAM NO. 325 TO HONG KONG

YOUR PARAGRAPH 4. WOULD WE NECESSARILY WANT TO REFER AT THIS i STATE TO A SINGLE VISIT? CLEARLY IT WOULD HAVE TO BE UNDERSTOOD THAT THERE COULD ONLY BE ONE SET OF CHINESE VISITS IN EXCHANGE FOR ONE VISIT TO GREY. BUT IF WE ACHIEVE A VISIT TO GREY ON THE BASIS NOW SUGGESTED, WE MIGHT WELL WANT TO TRY TO REPEAT THE PATTERN CFUTURE OCCASION OR OCCASIONS. WE FEEL THEREFORE THAT IN E'IDEAVOURING TO MOUNT THIS OPERATION WE SHOULD USE LANGUAGE WHICH WOULD IMPLY NEITHER THAT WE WERE THINKING PURELY AND SIMPLY IN TERMS OF A ONCE FOR ALL OPERATION, NOR THAT WE WERE INTENDING IT RECESSARILY TO BE A PRECURSOR OF OTHERS TO FOLLOW.

YOUR PARAGRAPH 5. WE THINK THAT IT MAY BE NECESSARY FOR THE VISITS ALL TO TAKE PLACE WITHIN A REASONABLY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME,

SINCE THE CHINESE MAY REFUSE ACCESS TO GREY UNTIL THE VISITS

7 HAVE ALL BEEN MADE OR AT ANY RATE ARRANGED. WE FEEL THAT YOUR POINT

SHOULD NOT BE MADE TO THE CHINESE UNTIL WE KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THE NUMBERS INVOLVED MAKE SPACING A NECESSARY STIPULATION.

c.c.

RIMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

H.K.D.

F.E.D.

CONFIDENTIAL

[

ORIG. Copy

CYPHER/CAT A

PE 67% CONFIDENTIAL

SÍMEDIATE HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

ELEGRAM NUMBER 212

PD4/1 (303)

19 FEBRUARY 1968

ONFIDENTIAL

DDRESSED CO TELNO 212 OF 1974 FEBRUARY RFI PEKING.

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES NË 51

28 FEB 1968

FD1318

*CKING TELEGRAM TO FO 129: PRISONERS.

** WOULD BE HELPFUL TO ME TO TRY TO CLARIFY JUST WHAT IT IS

1 AM BEING ASKED TO CONCEDE FOR GREY'S SAKE,

THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO ME TO BE AN ARGUMENT ABOUT THE

HERAL PRINCIPLE OF VISITING BUT ABOUT CAS WHAT IS OR IS NOT

\ ''FORMAL'' VISIT SEMICOLON AND (B) TO HOW MANY PEOPLE **FORMAL

SITS CAN BE MADE.

THE RULES ABOUT VISITING WERE SUMMARISED IN PARAGRAPH 2(A)

* MY TELEGRAM 1908 OF 23RD DECEMBER. THIS TELEGRAM PERHAPS

RRS IN NOT MAKING IT CLEAR HOW LIBERALLY THE RULES ARE NORMALLY

TERPRETED. IN DETAIL:

(1) ALL PRISONERS ARE, OR CAN BE, VISITED REGULARLY ONCE A

WTH. MORE OR LESS ANYBODY WITHIN THE CATEGORY OF RELATIVES

WIND FRIENDS CAN BE LET IN TO SEE THEM ON THESE VISITS PROVIDED

EY DECLARE WHO THEY ARE, WHICH IS A SIMPLE SECURITY PRECAUTION

. THE ONE HAND AND A PROTECTION FOR THE PRISONER ON THE OTHER.

E PRISONER MUST ALSO AGREE TO SEE THEM SEMICOLON OBVIOUSLY

·ISONERS CANNOT BE FORCED TO SEE PEOPLE THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE.

>> EXTRA VISITS TO INDIVIDUAL PRISONERS CAN BE APPROVED FOR

ASONABLE CAUSE AT THE PRISONER'S REQUEST. AGAIN, ANYBODY

VTING TO SEE A PRISONER FOR ANY SPECIAL REASONS IS OF COURSE

EE TO ASK TO VISIT HIM SEMICOLON IF THE REASONS ARE COMPELLING,

E VISIT CAN BE ALLOVED AGAIN SUBJECT TO THE PRISONER'S

GREEMENT. A PARTICULARLY RELEVANT EXAMPLE IS THAT AN EMPLOYER

USUALLY GRANTED ONE VISIT TO AN EMPLOYEE. THUS, ON 14 FEBRUARY

VEN THE MANAGER OF THE COMMUNIST YIEN YIEH COMMERCIAL BANK ASKED

SEE SIX EMPLOYEES HE WAS ALLOWED CACCOMPANIED BY TWO OTHERS FROM

HE BANKO ONE VISIT TO EACH OF THEM (UNDERLINE NEXT WORD) INDIVID-

ALLY.

CONFIDENTIAL

/(c) TO

CONFIDENTIAL

HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 212 TU JOKKONAZALTH OFFICE

(U) TU COMPLETE THE BACKGROUND, UR HULĖS GIVE ANY PRISUNER A

RIGHT OF ACCESS TO HIS CONSULAR REPRESENTATIVE AT ANY TIME:

BUT THIS OF COURSE REr'ano To A FORMAL KEPRESENTATIVE.

4. THE QUESTION IS WHATELOR ARMANGALENTS FOR THE "FORMAL"

VISITS REQUESTED BY THE CHINESE CAN BE MADE 11THIN THIS FRAMEMURA

OF THE NORLAL VISITING PATTERN SET OUT ABOVE. I am NOT at all

CLEAR "WHAT THE CHINESE INTEND THE MUND "FORMAL" TU MEAT SEM) - GULON BUT FROM OUR POLIT OF VIEW THERE ARE TWO POINTS THAT IT is

ESSENTIAL TO AVOLD CONCEDING:

(A) ANY MELISS.UN UP A FORMAL RIGHT OF REPRESENTATIVES OF COMUNIST URGANISATIONS TO VISIT PRISUMERS, PARTICULARLY ĦIDE AND ILL-DEFINED CATEGORIES OF PRISONERS OR GROUPS OF PRISONERS

TOGETHER SEMICULON AND

(B) THE IMPLIED ADMISSION OF SUME FORM OF QUASI-CONSULAR STATUS

FOR N

ALTHOUGH WE MAY HAVE USED C F G ORGAND AS CHANNELS FOR COMUNICATION FROM TIMS TO TIME, I STILL FEEL HE NEED Tɩ BE VERY CAREFUL IN THE LÜMPTERM INTERST OF HUNG KONG ABOUT GLACEDING QUASI-CONSULAR STATUS TO TRY. THE CONCESSION THAT WE HAVE ALREADY LADE, UN GRANTING AN 1 ~ NA VISIT TONNA'S OWN EMPLOYEES CAN BE JUSTIFIED UNDER OUR EXISTING RULES.

5. ON RECONSIDERING THE LATTER NOW, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE FÜR US TU KANË A NEW PROPOSAL TO THE CHINESE THAT WOULD GO SULE WAL TOWARDS MEETING THEIR REQUEST "ITHOUT CONCEDING EITHER OF THE Tau PRlivlPLES ABOVE. I WOULD SUGGEST TELLING THEM THAT IN THINKING FURTHER ABOUT THEIR REQUEST FUR VISITS TO JOURNALISTS (PARAGRAPH 1(A) Or Pialmu teletham 84) IT (CCURRED TO US THẤT THAME MIGHT HAVE DEEN A MISUNDERSTANDING. TWO POINTS TERE NOT CLLAR TU

US:-

(1) WHAT THEY MEANT BY ■ 'FORMAL' VISIT AND

(11) TU PREMISELY WHICH INDIVIDUALS THEY WISHED THE VISITS TO KE PAID.

WE WERE ALWAYS READY TO APALY OUR RULES FUR PRISON VISITS IN A REASONABLE MANNER. IF THEY WOULD SUPPLY US WITH THE MAKES OF THE ADDITIONAL JOURNALISTS [PGP. OMITTED] ESTIUN, HE WOULD BE PREPARED TO CONSIDER FIRAITTING SINGLE VISITS TO EACH OF THEN INDIVIDUALLY BY RIS EMPLOYER AND/OR A RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL OF THE ORGANISATION EMPLOYING HIM, SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:- (1) The rkiSONER LUST "UT ÚRJEST.

(11)EACH VISIT LUST DE TO A PRISONER INDIVIDUALLY.

CONFIDENTIAL

/(111)THE

{

CONFIDENTIAL

HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 212 TU COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

¡11) THE NUMBER OF VISITORS TO EACH PRISONER AT ANY ONE TIME MUST

DE REASONABLY RESTRICTED, 1.E. TO TWO OR THREE VISITORS.

(1) THE TIMING MUST BE CONVENIENT TO THE PRISON AUTHORITIES.

C/O VISITS SHOULD NOT NORMALLY LAST MORE THAN 15 MINUTES EXCEPT WITH

GOOD REASON (THIS LIMIT IS APPLIED GENERALLY TO PRISON VISITS IN THE

INTERESTS OF VISITORS SINCE INTERVENING FACILITIES ARE NOT

LIMITED AND LONGER VISITS WOULD OFTEN MEAN VISITORS WAITING LONGER )

VISITS ON THES BASIS CWHICH H.M CHARGE COULD MAKE OUT WERE RATHER

ECIAL CONDITIONS IF THIS WOULD HELP) WOULD NOT BE AN EMBARRASSMENT,

HEY WOULD ALLOW PATRIOTIC JOURNALISTS' TO BE VISITED BY THE

ITORS OR MANAGERS OF THEIR PAPERS COR SOMEONE SIMILAR) BUT NOT BY

N.C.N.A. PER SE. IF HOWEVER THE CHINESE MAINTAIN THAT 'FORMAL'

ISITS MEAN SOMETHING MORE, I SHOULD HAVE TO RECONSIDER WHEN THEIR

"XTRA REQUIREMENTS WERE KNOWN.

1. ON THE OTHER HAND IF, BEFORE MAKING AN APPROACH, H.M. CHARGE WOULD

SH ANY FURTHER CLARIFICATION, OR ANY MODIFICATIONS WITHIN THIS

AMEWORK, I WOULD OF COURSE BE GLAD TO TRY TO MEET HIM.

JSSIBILITIES ARE :-

A TO HINT THAT AN N.C.N.A. OFFICIAL COULD ACCOMPANY THE EMPLOYER,

> TO ARRANGE THAT INTERVIEWS TAKE PLACE IN THE ROOM WHERE LAWYERS

LE PRISONER CLIENTS, WHICH IS SOMEWHAT MORE COMFORTABLE THAN THE

DOMAL ARRANGEMENTS AND MIGHT BE THOUGHT MORE

FORMAL'

WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT CLEAR HOYEVER THAT I WOULD PREFER NOT TO

KE THESE CONCESSIONS WHICH WOULD RATHER TOO GREATLY DISTINGUISH

THESE PEOPLE FROM ORDINARY PRISONERS AND I WOULD WISH TO CONSIDER

FORE FINALLY AGREEING.

THE OPPORTUNITY MIGHT ALSO BE TAKEN TO ENQUIRE FURTHER ABOUT THE OPOSED HSUEH PING/GREY EXCHANGE.

LEASE PASS IMMEDIATE PEKING. AS MYTEL 69.

SAR D. TRENCH

[KEPETITION TO PERING,

REFERRED FÜR DEPARTLENTAL DECISION]

HANTLËNTAL DISTRIBUTION

12. H.A. DE-T. F.0. F.B.D.

ZIPP

NEWS DEPT. Ü...A.

ADVANCE PIES SENT

CONSULAR DEPT. P.C.D

J.I.A.D NEWS DEPT.

2.D. & P.U.S.D.

D.S.A.U. PERSONNEL DEPT.

CONFIDENTIAL

ORIG. Com on FII (1)

COFIDEITIAL

TOP GU

ITH

RESTYD N

TO COMLOUNGIN OFFICE

26 FEBRUARY 1968

CYPHER CAT A

MEDIATE HONG KONL

LEGRAM NO 241

TIDENTIAL-

MYTEL w/Reed.

ADDRESSEÒ SECRETARY OF STATE RFI PEKING MYTEL. NO. 76 DATED

KTH FEBRUARY.

YOUR TELEGRAMS NOS. 323. 324, AND 325 PRISON VISITS.

ARCHIVES No.31

27FEB 1968

FD13/8

I AM NOT ANXIOUS TO PROLONG THE DISCUSSION, BUT YOU NO DOUBT APPRECIATE THAT THESE TELEGRAMS SUGGEST SIX ADDITIONAL CONCESSIONS WHICH, IN VARYING DEGREE, WILL DISTINGUISH THESE PRISONERS AND WHICH I AM ACCORDINGLY CONCERNED ABOUT MAKING- <1> THE INCLUSION OF N.C.N.A. IN THE VISITS AT ALL, WHICH

I HAVE HOWEVER ALREADY INDICATED I WOULD ACCEPT IF NECESSARY: (11) USE OF THE SPECIAL ROOM, WHICH COULD WELL BE AWKWARD IF CONSIDERABLE NUMBERS ARE INVOLVED WITHOUT ADEQUATE SPACING. HERE AGAIN, HOWEVER, 1 AM PREPARED TO SO ARRANGE, ALTHOUGH I SCE LITTLE REASON TO VOLUNTEER THE PROPOSAL:

YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 323, PARAGRAPH 3. TO ALLOW VISITS

BY MONA ALONE WOULD BE A FURTHER KOVE AWAY FROM OUR CURRENT PRISON PRACTICE AND IN THE DIRECTION OF GRANTING NCNA A SPECIAL STATUS. I DO NOT MYSELF SEE WHY WE SHOULD THINK IT NECESSARY TO CONCEDE THE POINT IN ADVANCE, LET ALONE TAKE THE INITIATIVE IN TUTTING THE CONCESSION INTO THE MINDS OF THE CHINESE, SINCE

CARE PREPARED TO ALLOW A RESPONSIBLE OFFICER OF THE EMPLOYING

QORGANISATION TO BE SUBSTITUTED FOR THE EMPLOYER:

CIVO YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 323, PARAGRAPH 4. IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES PERHAPS IT WOULD BE BETTER TO SAY NOTHING INITIALLY ABOUT TIME

IBITS, AND LEAVE IT TO THE CHINESE TO RAISE THE POINT:

EVERTHELESS THIS IS UNLIKELY TO BE A PROBLEM UNLESS THE

(UMBERS ARE LARGE AND CANNOT BE CONVENIENTLY SPACED:

CONFIDENTIAL

/(V) YOUR

Hiệu HỒNG TƠI RIAL,

CONFIDENTI AL

241 TO COBIONYBARITI OFFICE

YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 225, PARAGRAPH 4. ODVIOUSLY THE MORE OFTEN 'SPECIAL VISITS' ARE REPEATED. THE MORE WE DISCRIMINATE IN FAVOUR OF COMMUNIST PRISONERS, AND THE GREATER RISK OF EMBARRASSMENT HERE. I WOULD NOT ENTIRELY EXCLUDE THE POSSIBILITY OF LATER EXCHANGES OF VISITS IF THE FIRST SET WENT WELL AND WE ACHIEVED THE QUID PRO QUO IN RESPECT OF GREY: BUT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE ENTER INTO NO COMMITMENT ON THIS POINT IN

OUR FIRST APPROACH TO THE CHINESE:

(VI) YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 325, PARAGRAPH 5. I WOULD DO MY BEST TO ARRANGE VISITS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, BUT THIS DEPENDS ON NUMBERS AND WHETHER ANY ADVERSE INTEREST IN THESE VISITS

IS AROUSED PUBLICLY.

2 1 WOULD STILL PREFER NOT TO CONDUCT THESE NEGOTIATIONS THROUGH NCNA IN HONG KONG SEMICOLON BUT IF WE DO SO I WOULD STRONGLY ADVISE THAT IT BE DONE BY EXCHANGES OF MESSAGES CAT LEAST AT FIRST) BECAUSE CAD IF WE DISCUSS POINTS OF SUBSTANCE CAS OPPOSED TO PURELY ADI1IN- ISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS) WITH NONA HERE WE ACCORD THEM IN EFFECT THE QUASI-CONSULAR ROLE THAT CCF PARAGRAPH 2 OF YOUR TELEGRAM 323) WE

WISH TO AVOID CONCEDING.

(B) THEY ARE LIKELY TO BE HORE INTRANS IGENT ABOUT HONG KONG PROBLEMS. THAN THE KEA AND OUR CONTACTS WITH THEM ON OTHER MATTERS HAVE BEEN RESTRICTED TO EXCHANGES OF MESSAGES ON THE TELEPHONE. IT COULD BE DIFFICULT AND TAKE TIME TO GET A TWO-WAY DISCUSSION ARRANGED. (THER? 'OULD EASILY BE LONG ARGUMENTS ABOUT FEETING PLACES).

AS FORCING US INTO NEGOTIATION HERE. THIS IS NOT TO SAY HOWEVER THAT

IF PROPOSALS FOR A DISCUSSION AROSE NATURALLY AND WITHOUT RISK OF

EMBARRASSMENT WE COULD NOT CONSIDER IT.

3. YOUR TELEGRAM 324, PARAGRAPH 3.

| SEE CONSIDERAPLE RISKS IN GIVING THE IMPRESSION THAT WE ARE

PREPARA LO ALLOW VINETS TO AN UNL, THETEN NUBIUR CAS PARAGRAPHE 10A)

ISLEGRAN Ra SKAS TO IMPLY) | WE ARE TO ARGUE ABOUT THE MATTER

IN HONG KONG LATER. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT WE SHOULD NOT OFFER

CONCESSIONS ON MATTERS WHICH ARE OF SUBSTANCE TO US BEFORE THE

/CHINESE

CONPPL DEPTAI

TORG VALEURA

16. OLMAL FCICE

-3-

.IKESE HAVE PRESSED US TO DO 30, AND WITHOUT OUR HAY LIG ANY

ASSURANCE THAT AS A RESULT WE SHALL GAIN ACCESS TO GREY.

1. YOUR TELEGRAM 324, PARAGRAPH 10A).

I SUGGEST WE NEED TO STRIKE A CAREFUL BALANCE ON THE EXTENT TO WHICH

REPRESENT OUR TERMS AS SPECIAL CONCESSIONS. I CONCEDE WE CANN

* PRESENT THEM AS BEING PERFECTLY NORMAL CESPECIALLY IN VIEW OF THE

A VITIONAL CONCESSIONS NOT PROTOSED) AS THIS YOULD BE BOTH TOO TRANSPARENT AND UNLIKELY TO SATISFY THER. BUT TO MAKE OUT THAT THEY

VORE QUITE UNUSUAL CONCESSIONS WOULD BOTH HAND THEM A FROPAGANDA

ICTORY AND CUT THE GROUND CUT FROM UNDER MY FEET HERE, WHERE 1

"UST DO MY BEST TO REPRESENT THEM AS NOT UNDULY ABNORMAL.

.. AS A CONCRETE PROPOSAL, I SUGGEST SUBSTITUTING FOR THE LAST

SENTENCE OF PARAGRAPH 1(A) AND FOR PARAGRAPH 1CB) OF YOUR TELEGRAM

24: IF THE NAMES OF THE JOURNALISTS AT PRESENT IN PRISON ARE

SUPLIED TO US, WE ARE PREPARED TO AGREE (PROVIDED THAT THE PRISONER

DOES NOT OBJECT) TO A SPECIAL VISIT TO EACH INDIVIHJALLY BY HIS

PLOYER AND ONE OTHER OFFICIAL OF THE NEWSPAPER EM 1.0YING HIM

ERICOLON OR ALTERNATIVELY ONE KONA REPRESENTATIVE, IF THIS IS

KEFERRED'.

H.H. CHARGE WOULD I HOPE STRESS THAT THOSE IN QUESTION MUST AC

TONA FIDE JOURNALISTS, AND HE MIGHT THEN GO ON TO ENQUIRE THE

CIDERS LIKELY TO DE INVOLVED. HE COULD THEN SUGGEST THAT AFTER

..EEMENT ON THE NUMBERS IN FEKING THE NONA IN HONG KONG SHOULD

COMMUNICATE TO THE POLITICAL ADVISER THE NAKES OF THE PRISONIRS

'ND THOSE PROPOSING TO VISIT THEM, IN ORDER THAT APPROXIMATE

THES OF VISITS AND OTHER DETAILS MIGHT BE COMMUNICATED TU NCHA.

1. FINALLY, 1 CAN ONLY REPEAT HY WARNING THAT ALL THESE CONCESSIONS

AND ARRANGEMENTS MAY RUN US INTO DANGEROUS REPURCUSSIONS HERE, BUT

I CANNOT OF COURSE SAY UNEQUIVOCALLY THAT THEY WILL DO 50.

1. 0. PLEASE PASS POKING 76.

AD. M

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26 February 1968

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Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 147 of 26 February, Repeated for information to Hong Kong.

Your telegram No. 324 to Hong Kong:

Prison Visite.

In making approach here I shall have to refer to conversations with Hsueh on 28 January and 31 January in which he questioned that arrangements be made for "responsible officials of NCNA" to visit NCNA and "patriotic" journalist prisoners,

Hsueh will assume we are prepared to meet Chinese on this

It will question and that therefore NCNA will be making visits. therefore be necessary for me to state at outset that a NCNA representative will be allowed to accompany employer in each case in calling on patriotic" journalist, rather than be asked, ma your paragraph 1(b) suggeste.

2. I have no other comments and hope I may now receive authority to make approach if possible tomorrow 27 February.

Sir D. Hopson

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Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 145 of 24 February, repeated for information to Hong Kong.

Hong Kong telegram No. 23: Prisoners.

In view of the considerable delays to which a solution of this question has already been subjected and of importance generally of getting perpetuating movement as soon as possible, I trust I shall be receiving very early authority to proceed as suggested in paragraph 3 and paragraph of telegram under reference. I attach great importance to the inclusion of NONA representative.

Foreign Office pass Hong Kong No. 94.

Sir D. Hopson

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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.

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

برية

CONFIDENTIAL

COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TELEGRAM NO. 324 TO HONG KONG

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.

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PRIORITY COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG

TEINO 323

23 FEBRUARY, 1968 (HWB AND F)

CONFIDENTIAL.

IVES No.31

26 FEB 1968

F013/8

ADDRESSED TO HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO 323 OF 23/2 REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING,

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.

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.

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).

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

CONFIDENTIAL

نب

CONFIDENTIAL

0.0. TELEGRAM NO. 323 TO HONG KONG

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

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

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cretary

Sips have

TAR

22 FEB 1968

8913/8

تفا

PRISON VISTAS IN HONG KONG

дали

its Thurray, Эра!

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

✡

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.

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

CERTIDEBITDA 1.

CONFIDENA TAL

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

CONFIDENTIAL

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Copyalis on FC 131814

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22 FEB 1968

ED1378

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,

ら

/anybody

CONFIDENTIAL

Flag D

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

L-

Copier greito

{ RECEIVED IN 7 JARCHIVES No 3! 22 FEB 1968

FD13/8

Надени

The Corte CoDEFINE

in dept Copy Also on FC 13/8/1CH

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a kept in dept

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NOWA DAL:

Hong Kong and Router's Coumesnordent in Belting

10. 7.67

11. 7.57

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

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

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

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

تاب

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.

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,

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

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.

CONMED SALLY

15. 1.33

15. 1.63

2141.68

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

russested that Wdzene merde i "consulne" status for their ECMA prison misfitm

Chinese proposals en vissa for misopicus. Gray mo not a visa question.

1.2. Changć proposed cuttling vica evostion witheos referanse to Gray, and that shert-tani vices to Civen to TEGA London.

35. 1.50

General Secretary of Hational Union of Journaliste asked for interview with Foreign Soorstany about

27. 1.53

20. 1,53

H.M. Chanzó stated that we should fail to ac'love patMmment with Chinoce if we altoylul to cut amet it beyond official silo, i.c. to inalale Brey

11.1. Cazać recomiendoj ceceptance of Chinen deannds sado en 28 Jamary far farral Nav Year visite to moA and other journalist weinenews, 17 relaza fer official vicit to Cruy. Visita by otir organisations to prisoners should not do and on rosmests, though Thinoso could eller vol anda Commlities to be observed to moot British difsimulticu.

Fort

21. 1.63

Hong Kong Covenement agreed to uno of "release to China" fékmula for dentrtation of #UA MINO, though he would be agrested if be reluzca.

munch bad boen made to Tela prisoners jot,

Hong Kong Government inleated loscl difficultico in acceding to Chinoso zoquesto, but was willing to

/azocco

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arrange special visits to HSVEN P'ING and 10 YU-JO by two NOHA officielo, though not to other

patriotic Journalists", of when there were at loagt 12.

Tondon

10. 1.60

F.0. recommend Hong Kong Governant proposals of 29 January to H.M. Chargé.

6. 2.68

0. 2.60

Cradock's interview at Chinese K.F.A. Conmiler Department. He expressed British difficulties ovez Hola erbstig vissa because of Grey question, and repeated offer (now on official level) of emolinaga for IBUCH PLING, Chiasse reiterated that Grey was not visa question.

་*

II.1. Chargé exxy resood disappointment at hio instruc- tions, and expressed the view that nntil ve made aubstantial concessions vis-à-vis liong Kong prisoners, there would be no consuler access to decy nor prospect of his rolesso.

Jordan

13. 2.68

Roport that Grey's sizi friend had received cable from hin in lost few days, saying he had recolvod lotters and telograms from hor.

14. 2.59

Manager of Communist Bank allowed individual visits to oix inwisoned employeca, accompanied by two others from the Bank.

Maw Kons

12. 5.50

Tiong Kong Governacht set out its position on prison visita, proposing that individual visits by œmlaycos of the detained jouranlicts could be nonaidescă. Subject to certain conditions (0.5. tinire) ii Chinese would supply nanou of other patriotic Journalisto* in question. The Rong Kong Government was anxious not to conccle quasi-conmules atatea in NCHA, or the formal right of regrasentatives of communist organisations to visit petconero,

Gʻ HSIDINMALAY

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ORCAIN IN copy on Fife zg

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Fe13/08 (145

Cypher/Cat A

CONFIDENTIAL

IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno 133

20 February, 1968

CONFIDENTIAL

تقامت

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES NË 31

¡FEB 1968

FD13/8

See Latein FD Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No.133 of

20 February, Repeated for information to Hong Kong.

Hong Kong telegram No.212: Prison Visits.

ра

I am however

چه

I am grateful for this clarification. surprised to learn that under the existing rules it has all along been possible for an extra visit to a prisoner to be granted to an outside person (given compelling reasons and prisoner's agreement) without the prisoner having first to ask for such a visit and that an employer is usually granted one such visit. The position as stated in Hong Kong telegram No.1908 was that special visits could only be granted on the On instructions I so prior request of prisoners themselves. informed the Chinese on 31 December. This has been a major sticking point in the negotiation.

2. I think it a great pity that we should not have been informed of these possibilities in December when prison visits were first discussed, or even a few weeks ago when the question arose of access at Chinese New Year. Much valuable time would have been saved and we could almost certainly have secured access to Grey.

3. Proposals now put by the Governor in his paragraph 5 fall short of the first Chinese demand of 28 January (access to NCNA and "patriotic" journalists) in only one important respect i.e., it is suggested that employers and not NCNA would visit the "patriotic" journalists. I strongly recommend that we should include the NCNA in such visits i.e., propose a visit by the employer plus an NCNA official, for the following reasons:

(a) As for holding out on this one point we would endanger the whole deal;

~PD1 3/4 (+1)

(b) As pointed out in Hong Kong telegram No.206, in some cases the employers of the "patriotic" journalists are themselves in gaol and may not be easily available;

(c) By allowing the NCNA to participate in these visits we would not be making any admission of the NCNA's quasi Consular status. We could in any subsequent discussion justify our actions and if need be distinguish this from Consular access by pointing out that the NCNA was allowed visits to the journalists because it is a Press organization and that such visits did not mean that they had any right to visit other categories of prisoner.

CONFIDENTIAL

/(a) I note

CONFIDENTIAL

Peking telegram No.133 to Foreign Office.

-2-

(a) I note that the Governor considers the possibility of including an NCNA official among the visitors (paragraph 7 (8) of telegram under reference);

(e) In the end our object is quick access to Grey. I consider such access important enough to justify slight straining of the miles in the above sense.

6.[sic] If above is agreed I could make an immediate approach to the Chinese, though I would mot propose to go into detailed points at the end of paragraph 5 which I think would be better dealt with in Hong Kong at time arrangements are made. This approach would not cut across expected Chinese reply on visas and on Grey-Hsueh-ping exchange, though we might bear something, particularly on the second point, at the same time. Again I think it most important we should move quickly if we want to avoid the danger of joint communications expiring.

Sir D.Hopson

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.0.

F.E.D.

Consular Dept.

P.C.D.

D.D. & P.U.S.D.

J.I.R.D.

NEWS DEPT.

D.S.A.0. PERSONNEL DEPT.

C.O.

H.K.D.

NEWS DEPT. O.L.A.

88888

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVED IN 'ARCHIVES No.31

op.a.

Mr. Wilkinson

31 JAN 1968

FD1378

}

་

Flag A

Problem

VISITS TO N.C.N.A. PRISONERS IN HONG KONG

Sir Donald Hopaon was summoned to the Chinese Ministry

F2-1/3 (207) of Foreign Affairs on 28 January to receive two "demands":

Flag B

(a) That arrangements should be made for N.C.N.A.

correspondents and other "patriotic journalists"

to be visited by N.C.N.A. officials over the

Chinese New Year. In return, the Chinese would

consider arrangements for a visit by a British

official to Mr. Grey.

(b) Arrangements should also be made for representatives

of other organisations to visit the two categories

of prisoners, on application.

Sir D. Hopson has strongly recommended that we meet the Chinese

demands. The Governor of Hong Kong has reservations and is

prepared to agree only to a visit by unaccompanied N.C.N.A.

officials to the N.C.N.A. prisoners.

Recommendation

2. I recommend that we accept the course proposed by the

Governor. I attach a draft telegram in which the Commonwealth

Office concur.

Background and Argument

The Chinese had earlier made an approach asking for

/special

CONFIDENTIAL

special visite to N.C.N.A. prisoners and other journalists

by N.C.N.A. officials and members of Chinese organisations.

They then asked that food and clothing should be brought in.

Flag C (3)The Governor of Hong Kong pointed out (Hong Kong telegram

No. 1910) that it was essential from his point of view to

avoid discriminating between political and other prisoners

and lending support to Chinese charges of bad conditions by

agreeing to extra food and clothing. He was however willing

to allow special visits, in addition to the monthly visits

already permitted to relatives, if the N.C.N.A. prisoners

complied with the regulations by specifically requesting them.

This was accepted in London and by Sir D. Hopson.

It was

conveyed to the Chinese but the matter has not been pursued

until now. The present request, while demanding less than

the last (i.e. omitting demands to take in food and clothing)

is in essence the same, as the Governor has pointed out, and

is thus open to the same objections (see my submission of

Flag D(b) 29 December, 1967). Meantime, it was announced in Canton

yesterday that the Kwantung branch of the Chinese Red Cross

had decided to send 1,000 suits of winter clothing to

compatriots in prison in Hong Kong.

4. The important difference on this occasion is that the

Chinese have indicated a willingness to allow consular access

to Mr. Grey. Understandably, Sir D. Hopson is reluctant to

let this opportunity pass since it is, as he says, another

indication, together with the recent Chinese approach about

entry and exit visas, that they are disposed to try to settle

/some

CONFIDENTIAL

- 3-

some outstanding problems. On the other hand, there

remains considerable force in the Governor's argumenta

against discrimination in favour of the political prisoners

and in the need to prevent propaganda capital being made

out of prison visits by large numbers of communist sympathisers.

In the end our real hope of securing Mr. Grey's release, as

opposed merely to consular access, lies in an exchange. This

can be pursued after the deportation of the two communist

film stars, which the Governor is putting in train, in order

to test the Chinese reactions. In the meantime, I do not

think that we should go beyond the course which the Governor

proposes. As it is, the N.C.N.A. prisoners are treated far

more generously than Mr. Grey and to make further concessions

to them which would damage our position in Hong Kong would

not be justified. Moreover it would underline to the Chinese

the value of Mr. Grey as a means of putting pressure on us

in Hong Kong.

び

Janne Munay.

(James Murray)

30 January, 1968

FR 31

Copies to:

Mr. Samuel

Mr. Carter, C.0.

Sir D Aller.

Jagree

Xa7

Whilhuison 30/

CONFIDENTIAL

Joan

16 What

CONFIDENTIAL

OP COPY

Cypher/Cat. A

FLASH

HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

lno 132 29 January, 1968

CONFIDENTIAL

ARCH

Seperate Submax-FD13/8

ре

هناء نعم

Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No. 132 of 29 January, Repeated for information to Peking.

F2 3/3 202 Peking telegram No. 84: 23/3200

Visits to Prisoners.

I am most anxious to help, but I am not sure that latest Chinese request marks any great advance on terms of request 013/reported in my telegram No. 1908.

Chinese

The major difficulty remains that of appearing to discriminate in favour of Communist prisoners, as we should do if we conceded the principle of special arrangements for visits to "other patriotic journalists" (of whom there are 12 at least) and to the people mentioned in paragraph 1(b) of Peking telegram under reference. in this respect the position remains as in paragraph 1 of my telegram No. 1910.

There are some other problems from our point of view:

F0131853

(a) The need to avoid giving large numbers of people the

excuse to appear at the prisons and stage demonstrations. (The Communists are currently organising hostile deputations to government buildings.)

(b) The need as far as possible to prevent the Communists

making propaganda capital out of these visits.

(c) The fact that prison rules preclude visits during holiday periods. The local public Chinese New Year Holiday ends on 1 February but of course festivities continue after that date.

On the other hand, I would certainly be prepared to let the Chinese know that special arrangements could be made for the two NCMA prisoners (who seem to me to be in a special position as employees of an official CPG organisation with quasi-consular status). I suggest that the reply to the point in paragraph 1(a) of the telegram under reference should be on the following lines; "If two unaccompanied NCNA officials care to call, and identify themselves at Stanley Prison to visit the two NCMA prisoners, Sit Ping and Lo Yu-ho, on Friday next, 2 February, before 4p.m. we would expect that an immediate visit could be arranged. Te would ask that the names of the visitors be communicated in advance to the Assistant Political Adviser by the NCNA and that there should be no publicity for the visit."

CONFIDENTIAL

4. I must

CONFIDENTIAL

Hong Kong Telno 132 to Commonwealth Office

-2-

I must however make it clear that if the two prisoners should object to the visit (which I would not expect) then I could not allow it to take place against their wishes. The best I could do then would be to endeavour to obtain their objections in writing.

5. If after the reply has been given the Chinese raise the question of visits to any other prisoners, I am afraid I could not agree to anything more being said than that monthly visits to such people by their relatives and friends (who could include, if the prisoners wish, representatives of their organisations) can be permitted under the existing rules; which are set out in paragraph 2 of my telegram No. 1908..

F.O. pass Flash Peking as my telegram No. 42.

Sir D. Trench

F.0.

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.E.D.

Consular Dept.

P.C.D.

D.D. & P.U.S.D.

News Dept.

0.0.

H.K.D.

News Dept.

D.3.A.0.

Personnel Dept.

XXXXX

DIS MOD

[Repeated as requested]

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL-

J. Murray, Esq., C.M.G. Far Eastern Department.

With the compliments of

THE OFFICE OF

THE BRITISH CHARGÉ D'AFFAIRES

(P. Cradock)

PEKING

15 January, 1968

PEK

CONFILENTIL

office of the British

Charge d'Affaires,

PEKING.

15 January, 1968

FD13/8

After much correspondence over prison visits in Hong Kong, thought occurs to us which perhaps should have been brought into the discussion earlier.

2. The rules governing prison visits in Hong Kong lay down that special visits can take place only at the request of the prisoners themselves and we have sc told the Chinese, But what is the procedure where a representative of a foreign government, say the Danish Consul, wishes to have access to one of his nationals in prison? Presumably such a visit is allowed on application by the representative concerned without special request from the prisoner. Is this not the correct analogy for "official" NGNA visits to Hsueh P'ing? Although, of course, MCNA Hong Kong have no consular status, they are something more than private persons. Moreover, is this not the parallel for our own applications for consular access to Grey?

3. Perhaps you would let me know what Hong Kong practice is on this point. If access is allowed in the situation I describe above without special request from the prisoner, there is more reason (despite the official position we have taren hitherto) for permitting NCNA Hong Kong to make an "official", though carefully controlled, visit to Hauch P'ing and possibly Lo Yu-ho without prior request by those two.

I am copying this letter to James Murray in Far Eastern Department.

(P. Cradock)

But an Asweds auch La

T.A.K. Elliott, Esq.,

Colonial Secretariat, HNG KONG.

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ᅡ

CONFIDENTIAL

CYPHER/CAT A

FOLIGN OFFICE AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO PEKING AND OTHER MISSION

TELEGRAM NO. 52

12 JANUARY, 1968 (F)

CONFIDENTIAL.

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 52 OF 12 JANUARY AND TO

HONG KONG

/FD1378

YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 34: N.C.N.A.

DECISION ON PROPOSALS IN MY TELEGRAM NUMBER 1052 HAVE BEEN HELD UP FOR MINISTERS TO CONSIDER WHOLE QUESTION OF GREY AND POSSIBLE ACTION AGAINST N.C.N.A. ABOUT WHICH WE SHALL BE TELEGRAPHING YOU SEPARATELY. YOU WILL WISH TO KNOW HOWEVER, THAT AFTER CONS! DERING ARGUMENTS IN YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 307, OUR INCLINATION WAS

TO FOLLOW SUGGESTION IN YOUR PARAGRAPH 3 WITH THE ADDITIONAL PROVISO THAT WE MIGHT WISH TO RENEW RESIDENCE PERMIT FOR PERIODS OF ONLY ONE MONTH AT A TIME.

SOSFA/CROSEC

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.O. F.E.D.

PASSPORT CONTROL DEPT

CONSULAR DEPT

NEWS DEPT

0,0. HONG KONG DEPT

Bee reply

fromm

Now Teling. (tet no 48).

CONFIDENTIAL

す

TELEGRAM SECTION

Room 124 K.C.S.

Communications Department

F.E. D. FDIS/8.

*Please send copies of the following telegram

*Copy/ies of the following telegram has/have been sent

(*delete as applicable)

TO:

Mr.

To Peking eto 14%,

Burley

Home

Offee Princeton House

YTC/1

271 High Holborn

(Signed)

(Department).......

(Date).....

Action taken in Communications Department:

(Initials)....

६

(Date).........

both

AFTER ACTION THIS FORM SHOULD BE SENT TO

THE APPROPRIATE ARCHIVES DIVISION FOR RETENTION

156397 500 Pada 2/66-McC & Co Ltd-K.16430 (3609)

Registry No.

DEPARTMENT

FD1348

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

PRIORITY MARKINGS

(Date)

Confidential

Flash Impudiate

Pylority Routine

Unclassified

}

• Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should

reach addressee(a)

66)

Despatched

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

1815/14/1

PRIVACY MARKING

In Coufidence

Le Chair. Code Cypher

[Secu

Security classification" -if any

[ Privacy any

Privacy marking

tion]

CONFIDENTIAL

PEKING

Addressed to

telegram No.

"IL"

........(date)

bankkabının

12/1

And to..

Draft Telegram to :-

No..

Poking

(Date)

And to:-

12/1

[Codeword-if any].

repeated for information to

... HONGKONG

Repeat to:-

Hongkong

Saving to:-

Distribution:- Departmental

FED

PCD

Consular Dept. News Department. Hebe Kong Dept.

Hr. Burley, Home Office

Princetown House

FORV

Saving to

-----k.com bomuldsgebieden en bekenden und

Your telegram No.

---------+|·

N.C.N.Acision on

proposals in telegram No. 1052 have been held

Ministers

possibut

consideration of whole cuestion of Grey aculon against N.C.N.A about which we

shall be telegraphing you separa-ely. You will

wish to know however, that after consi !ering

arguments in your telegram No. 307, our inclination

was to follow suggestion in your paragraph 3 with

Chush to the additional proviso that we might renewed

residenvermit for periods of only one month at

a time.

зд

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bonfidential

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

1 JAN 1908

FD13/8

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GRATIFUL F.

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FD 13/8 43

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Confidential

SECRET

Hr. Wilkinson

RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES No.51

10 JAN 1968

FD13/8

Visits to Mr. Grey and Imprisoned N.C.N.A.

Reporters in Hong Kong

(bet

Problem

There are two inter-related problema.

(a) The requests of the New China News Agency (N.C.N.A.)

in Hong Kong for special New Year visits to two

of their imprisoned reporters, and for permission

to send in supplies of food and clothing to these

prisoners.

(b) The question of whether it would now be opportune

to suggest to the Chinese that some sort of

arrangerent should be made to exchange Mr. Grey

for the imprisoned N.C.N.A. reporters.

Recommendation

I recommend that lir. Hopson should be instructed to

(a) tell the Chinese that special visits to the

N.C.N.A. reporters can only be granted on the

request of the prisoners themselves and to hint

that such a request would be granted if visits

are allowed to Mr. Grey; and

(b) at the same time to suggest to the Chinese, as

a personal idea, that some arrangement should

be made to swop the N.C.N.A. prisoners for

Mr. Grey.

SECRET

/Background

SECRET

- 2

[Flag A

13/2751 sla,

[Flag B] F013/8/53

[Flag C

F3 13/7/55

Background and Argument

3. There has been an exchange of telegrams between Peking

and Hong Kong following a request by the N.C.N.A. in Hong

Kong to make special New Year visits to N.C.N.A. reporters

who are now in prison for offences connected with Communist

tonfrontation" against the Hong Kong Government (Hong Kong

telegram no. 1908). The N.C.N.A. also said that they had

been asked by other Communist organisations to request on

their behalf arrangements to visit others in prison.

It was

said that those visiting the prisoners would bring winter

clothing and food.

4. The Governor of Hong Kong has pointed out that, according

to prison rules, special visite to prisoners can only be

allowed after a request by the prisoners themselves and has

made the valid point that wholesale "comfort missions" to Communist prisoners would be used by the Communists for

propaganda purposes. He has also said that it would not be

possible without breaking the rules in favour of political

prisoners to allow food parcels to be sent in and that clothing

can only be provided for prisoners to use on their release

(Hong Kong telegram no. 1910).

5. The Governor has agreed that Mr. Hopson should approach

the Chinese and say that visits to the N.C.N.A. reporters

will be allowed and at the same time hint to the Chinese that

this will depend on visits being allowed to Mr. Grey in Peking,

although he is anxious that the two cases should not be linked

explicitly. His views are summarised in Hong Kong telegram

no. 1922. I agree with the general line he takes in this

/telegram.

SECRET

- 3-

Flag D] FC 13/8/115

[Flag B] FD 13/8/52

telegram.

6. There is the further question of whether or not we

should suggest to the Chinese at this stage that Mr. Grey

should be swopped for the two N.C.N.A. reporters. Mr. Hopson

had earlier suggested that this could be done as a personal

suggestion by him (Peking telegram no. 375) and I agree that

this is probably the best method. The Governor agreed to

play his part in this if the Chinese played theirs (Hong

Kong telegram no. 1909). The arguments against raising visits

and an exchange at the same time are twofold.

(a) It would introduce a new and possibly complicating

factor into the issue of visits and may therefore

be objectionable to the Governor of Hong Kong, who

no doubt wishes to settle the question of the visits

at his end as soon as possible.

(b) It might be tactically better to have a new

proposal available if arrangements for visits

run into difficulties.

On the other hand there would, I think, be advantages in

planting the seed in the Chinese minds, without commitment,

in the first instance so that if they are geminely anxious

to disembarrass themselves of Mr. Grey they can begin con-

sidering the terms of a bargain rather than wasting time

cavilling over the details of visita, comforts and so on.

I am convinced that our only hope of eventually securing

Mr. Grey's release is by means of offering some quid pro quo

/of this

SECRET

of this kind and see nothing to be lost by beginning the

attempt now.

7. I attach a draft telegram to Peking drafted in such

a way that before the instructions are acted upon, the

Governor of Hong Kong can, if he so desires, express

objection to the linking of visits and an exchange.

Commonwealth Office concur.

James Munneys.

(James Murray)

29 December, 1967

The

Copies to:

Private Secretary

Mr. Carter, C.0.

In t.

&. Aller

Affe

your

4. A

Philhar

29/411.

absence I append the t. I.

It seem to me right:

M. James Jenay.

Dail

SECRET

En Clair

CONFIDENTIAL

IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno. 19

6 January 1968

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

- 8 JAN 1968

FD 13/8

CONFIDENTIAL

Addressed to Hong Kong telegram No. 8 of 6 January Repeated for information to Foreign Office,

Your telegram No. 7, [No. 23 to 0.0. Prison Visits]

I agree

NR.

Sir D. Hopson

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.O. F.E.D.

G.O. H.K. DEPT.

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

CONFIDENTIAL

pa.

Peking tel. no 22.

We have now

heach

Reference

FD13/8 w√62

sous probiomimary

comments from Hong kong (WEI no 50)

and

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CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVED IN JARCHIVES No.31

{હ

FED

PRIORITY

elno. 22

PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

- 8 JAN 1968

6 January 1968

CONFIDENTIAL

ᅲ

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 22 of 6 January Repeated for information to Hong Kong.

I suggest serious consideration should be given to some substantial act of clemency in respect of the prisoner in Hong Kong to coincide with Chinese New Year (end of Jamary)

A similar idea was discussed in your telegram_2,047 to Hong Kong and Hong Kong telegram 1,501 last October. The Governor's view at the time was that it was too early to consider a substantial gesture and that such a move at any time would have legal complications, but that something might be done if situation becane and remained cala,

I realise that there are still many problems, particularly for Hong Kong in such a move. But now that three months have passed and Communist line on Hong Kong has radically changed (see in particular Hong Kong latest weekly suneemnents), as seen from here arguments in favour are strong:

The move would not be giving way to local Communist preasure. It would come from strength and in recognition of a Communist change of line. As such, it should encourage moderation on Chinese side rather than reverse,

(b) It would do something to de-fuse Communist propaganda. about conditions in prisons

(6) FD 14/3

Form such a geature might take would nged careful study and Governor's suggestion in his telegram No. 1503 of a board review may be necessary, But I would suggest granting remission of sentences for those not directly involved in violence particularly young prisoners and women. I think too we should be ready to consider release in Hong Kong of majority of those concerned, bearing in mind fact thất Communist line has now changed and those released are unlikely to become threats to order and security again.

4. I do not rule out possibility of deportation in certain CABOS. We have had no alear indication whether Peking would accept deportees. Mr. Hauch'" objections on 31 December (ny telegram No. 1) seem to relate more to the size of quid pro quo than to principle of deportation, And it may be that we c) should also try out the ones in your telegram No. 1069 to ne. But deportation (depending as it does on Chinese attitude) is a more complex mansexre than pardon, And in any event now that emphasis in Hong Kong is on study of Hao and "political struggle" risks in release in Hong Kong would seen substantially reduced even in Jase of some of the bigger fish in our net.

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CONFIDENTIAL

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CONFIDENTIAL

PEKING FELEGRAM NO. 22 TO FOREIGN OFFICE

-2-

I should be grateful for your and Governor's comments Whatever the size of the gesture I think that the case for making one of some kind at the end of this month is very strong and failure to make it would neglect a good chance of encouraging political trend in the right direction.

Foreign Office pass Priority to Hong Kong No. 10.

[Repeated as requested]

Sir D. Hopson

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- 8 JAN 1968

PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telegram No. 17

CONFIDENTIAL

FD13/8

5 January, 1968 1968 the Correor.

The fancti appear comment from Hk. Bu. 4 days.

It wait a

༣

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 17 of

5 January,

Repeated for information to Hong Kong.

My telegram No. 1; Prison Visits.

(sa)

Mr. Hsueh during my interview with him on

31 December stated that formal request for NCNA officials to visit their prisoners in Hong Kong had been made months ago, and that he indirectly repeated this formal request to me on 27 November., This (as I told Mr. Hsueh) is not (repeat not) true. In view of possibility of publicity in future it is desirable to get our own records straight.

We have no papers prior to 22 August but according to our recollections question developed as follows:

(a) during August Press Department of Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs in response to our repeated requests for Consular access to Grey passed telephone message to us stating that access to Grey depended on permission being given for NCNA to visit their prisoners in Hong Kong.

(b) Governor of Hong Kong informed us that this could be agreed and we informed Press Department by telephone that if access were granted to Grey access would also be granted to NCNA prisoners in Hong Kong. There was no reaction in Peking.

(c) When I saw Mr. Hsueh on 20 August I complained that we had still not repeat not) been granted access to Grey although had informed News Department that permission could be granted for NCNA officials to visit their prisoners in Hong Kong. Acting Vice Consul [grp. undec.i said situation had changed, implying their offer was withdrawn.

(a) In September we were informed by Hong Kong that NCNA officials had in fact visited Hsueh P'ing that month together with his wife. The News Department were [? grp. omitted).

(e) When I raised the question of access to Grey again with Mr. Hsueh on 27 November, he said the News Department had told us that access depended on the NCNA being granted access to their journalists. I told him that access in Hong Kong had been granted and the News Department had been so informed. Mr. Hsuch said he had not received a report on this but would enquire. We sent

/a Note

CONFIDENTIAL

Peking telegram No. 17 to Foreign Office

a Note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 29 NovemberT confirming that Hsueh P'ing had been visited by the NCNA official together with his wife on three occasions.

(f) On 31 December Mr. Hsueh made request for "form" visit to NONA and other journalists in Hong Kong as well as for visits by other organisations to other prisoners and for permission to take food and clothing as already requested by the NCNA. He says that if the requests put forward by the NCNA in Hong Kong are "fully satisfied" consideration would be given to allow access to Grey.

3. Perhaps Hong Kong could confirm what previous requests they had received from the NCNA for access since Hsueh P'ing was arrested (I have just seen Hong Kong telegram No.7)......

It will be seen from the above that the Chinese have constantly shifted their ground and raised their price for access to Grey.

Foreign Office pass Hong Kong No. 6.

Sir D. Hopson

[Repeated as requested]

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INDEL HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (D.T.D.)

Telno 1928

UNCLASSIFIED

31 December, 1967

Addressed to Peking telegram No. 681 of 31 December,

Foreign Office. Repeated for information to:

Foreign Office telegram No.1141 to you [Prison Visits).

I confirm I have no objection to proposal in penultimate sentence of paragraph 4 but would prefer idea in last sentence not to be raised too quickly.

Sir D. Trench

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No. 21

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Telno 1

IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

1 January, 1968

FD13/8

CONFIDENTIAL

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 1 of 1 January. Repeated for information to:

My telegram No. 387.

Hong Kong.

I was received by Mr. Hsuch Deputy Director of Western Europe at my request on 31 December to discuss NCNA request for special visit to their reporters in prison.

I began by informing Mr. Hauch that according to Hong Kong prison rule requests for special visits must come from prisoners themselves and that if prisoners made such a request I thought it would probably be granted. I suggest it was open to NCNA to write to prisoners to suggest this. I went on to remind Mr. Esuch that NONA officials had already visited Hauch P'ing and other journalists many times on a monthly basis and that reporters could send and receive letters. I contrasted this with treatment accorded to Grey whom we had not been allowed to visit despite repeated requests. I pointed out that permission for special visits was at discretion of prison authorities and we should be interested to see whether similar treatment in way of monthly visits, a New Year visit and facilities to send and receive letters would be granted to Grey.

3. In reply Mr. Hsueh said that NCNA had requested Hong Kong British authorities to arrange formally for responsible officials of NCNA to visit their correspondents in prison. NCNA had also been entrusted by other responsible organisations such as trade unions, schools and social organisations to request Hong Kong British authorities to allow representatives to visit prisoners from their organisations. NCNA had received no reply and Chinese Government was very dissatisfied. The request had been made several months before so why did Hong Kong British authorities suddenly raise issue of prisoners making requests themselves? Chinese Government could absolutely not agree this.

4. Mr. Hauch went on to complain of inhuman treatment suffered by prisoners such as being given insufficient food and being forced to sleep on cement floors. On the question of Grey he said "If Hong Kong British authorities satisfy requests put by NCNA the Chinese Government might consider allowing British Office to send personnel to visit Grey".

5. Mr. Hsuch then said that according to reports in Hong Kong newspapers two film actors Fu Ch'i and Shin-Hui and a Director of Phoenix Film Company Jen Yi-Chih were to be deported to Taiwan. was impermissible.

This

6. I reminded Mr. Hsuch that NCHA officials had already visited Hauch P'ing. We had reported this fact (gp. undec.] Chinese Government. I said that as far as visits by representatives of other organisations were concerned it was up to prisoners to make request themselves. I rejected his complaints about prison conditions in Hong Kong which compare favourably with accounts elsewhere.

Mr. Hsueh had said that NCNA had received no reply to their request. I was now giving him the reply.

7. I went on to say I had no information on film actors and director mentioned by Mr. Hsueh but if anyone went to Taiwan it would be of their own free will. In the course of an exchange in which

CONFIDENTIAL

Peking telegram No. 1 to Foreign Office

- 2

I reminded Mr. Hsuch once again of earlier NCNA visit he said official had been accompanied by reporters' families so visits were unofficial,

At the end of the interview I put forward on a personal basi proposal that problem could be solved by an exchange of Grey and Hsueh P'ing, if Chinese were prepared to accept Hsueh P'ing and to allow Grey to leave the country. Mr. Hsueh said he would pass this proposal on to higher authority but said that he personally considered that they were unlikely to agree to it. So many people had been killed and arrested in Hong Kong that it was impossible to settle problem so lightly.

9. This is first time Chinese have drawn this distinction between an officially sponsored NCMA visit and unofficial visits allowed so far. This may be a sort of ex post facto justification of their failure to grant us access to Grey in turn for unofficial visits. I doubt if they expect us to grant all their requests. Whether they proceed [gp. undec.] requests for visits from prisoners themselves remains to be seen. The whole operation looks more like a propaganda build-up for a campaign about prisoners' conditions in Hong Kong which would also be used to counter any publicity and may be initially about treatment of Grey. There may also be an implied threat that if Chinese requests are not met conditions of Grey's confinement may be made more severe "Please see my immediately following telegram".

10. I should be grateful if Hong Kong would keep me closely informed by immediate telegram of further developments.

Foreign Office pass Immediate Hong Kong No. 1.

Sir D. Hopson

[Repeated as requested].

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No.31

1- JA 308

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JAMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno 387

31 December, 1967

F58

TOP COPY

UNCLASSIFIED

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 387 of 31 December. Repeated for information to:

Hong Kong.

Your telegram No. 1141.

Prison Visits.

Instructions carried out this afternoon. Reports follow.

Mr. Hopson

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CONFIDENTIAL

ER/CAT A

IMMEDIATE FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING

TELNO 1111

29 DECEMBER, 1967

(FED)

р.а

CONFIDENTIAL.

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NO 1141 29 DECEMBER REPEATED FOR

INFORMATION TO HONG KONG.

HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 1922: F

VISITS,

WE SEE THE DIFFICULTY ABOUT LINKING SPECIAL VISITS TOO DIRECTLY TO ACCESS TO GREY: BUT IF WE ARE TO DERIVE ANY BENEFIT FROM THIS FOR GREY WE THINK THAT AN IMPLIED LINK IS UNAVOIDABLE, AND INDEED DESIRABLE.

2. PLEASE SEEK AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CHINESE AND, REFERRING TO THE NEW CHINA S-GENCY APPROACH IN HONG KONG, SAY THAT VISITS TO PRISONERS *N ONLY BE MADE AT THE REQUEST OF THE PRISONER HIMSELF. IF SUCH A REQUEST IS MADE BY THE N.C.N.A. STAFF IN PRISON IT WOULD, HOWEVER, PROBABLY BE GRANTED. YOU SHOULD NOT YOURSELF RAISE THE QUESTIONS OF CLOTHING OR FOOD. IF THE CHINESE DO SO YOU SHOULD SAY THAT THESE ARE MATTERS OF DETAIL WHICH SHOULD BE DISCUSSED IN HONG KONG. (ON BOTH QUESTIONS WE AGREE WITH THE LINE IN THE HONG KONG TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE.) IF THE CHINESE ASK ABOUT VISITS TO OTHER PRISONERS YOU SHOULD RESTRICT YOURSELF TO SAYING THAT THE PRISONERS THEMSELVES MUST APPLY ACCORDING TO THE RULES,

3. ONCE THE QUESTION OF VISITS IN HONG KONG HAS BEEN DEALT WITH YOU SHOULD GO ON TO ENQUIRE ABOUT VISITS TO GREY, BUT WITHOUT SPECIFICALLY LINKING THE TWO CASES.

A. WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING WHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD NOW BE OFPORTUKE TO PROPOSE AN EXCHANGE OF GREY FOR THE IMPRISONED N.C.N.A. STAFF MEMBERS. THIS WOULD OF COURSE INTRODUCE A NEW AND POSSIBLY COMPLICATING FACTOR INTO THE QUESTION OF PRISON VISITS. MOREOVER THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR KEEPING THIS

/NEW

CONFIDENTIAL

F.0. TELEGRAM NO. 1141 TO PEKING

-2-

NEW PROPOSAL IN RESERVE IF ARRANGEMENTS FOR VISITS RUN INTO DIFFICULTIES. ON BALANCE, HOWEVER, WE THINK THERE IS ADVANTAGE IN MAKING THE SUGGESTION INFORMALLY TO THE CHINESE NOW, WITHOUT COMMITMENT IN THE FIRST INSTANCE. IF BY ANY CHANCE THEY WERE NOW GENUINELY ANXIOUS TO DISEMBARRASS THEMSELVES OF GREY, THEY COULD BEGIN CONSIDERING THE TERMS OF A BARGAIN WITHOUT WASTING TIME CAVILLING OVER THE DETAILS OF VISITS AND COMFORTS. PROVIDED THEREFORE THAT THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG CONFIRMS THAT HE HAS NO OBJECTION YOU SHOULD, AS PROPOSED IN YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 375, SUGGEST ON A PERSONAL BASIS AT YOUR MEETING THAT THE BEST ULTIMATE SOLUTION WOULD BE TO EXCHANGE GREY FOR HSUEH PING. YOU MIGHT INCLUDE LO YU-HO IN THE BARGAIN IF THE CHINESE SHOWED ANY SIGNS OF RISING TO THE FLY.

SOSPA

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नेने

1835

24/25/67

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Registry No.

DEPARTMENT

FED

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secret

FP13/8.

PRIORITY MARKINGS

Confidential

Upetasnified

Electr Immediate

Radtine

(Date).......

• Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should

reach addressee{s}

Despatched

29/12

12252

ILIPOILLIN LLEI -

PRIVACY MARKING

A Confidence

[Security classification"]

-if any

[ Privacy

Privacy marking

if any

Cypher

Draft Telegram to:-

PEKING

No.

1141

(Date) 29/12

And to:-

CONFIDENTIAL

]

sottendent

[Codeword-if any]

Addressed to

telegram No.

And to

repeated for information to

FIITII|1TM▬▬▬

nmr T'

PEKING

(date) 29 December

יו

--------------------------medited............. --- VYPO

HONG KONG (IMEDIAPE

➖➖➖I'ILLL

ויווויין ייי

IMMEDIATE

"Ropeu, ts----- HONG KONG 2638

Saving to:-

Distribution: Departmental:

FED

C.O.: H.K.D.

Copies to:-

Saving to

-----------------------

Hong Kong telegram No. 1922: Prison Visits.

We see the difficulty about linking special

visita too directly to access to Grey; but if we

are to derive any benefit from this for Grey we

think that an implied link is unavoidable, and

indeed desirable.

Please seek an interview with the Chinese and,

referring to the New China News Agency approach

in Hong Kong, say that visits to prisoners can only

be made at the request of the prisoner himself.

If such a request is made by the N.C.N.A. staff in

prison it would, however, probably be granted. You

should not yourself raise the questions of clothing

or food; if the Chinese do so you should say that

these are matters of detail which should be

discussed in Hong Kong., (On both questions we

agree with the line in the Hong Kong telegram under reference.) If the Chinese ask about visits to

/other

CONFIDENTIAL

other prisoners you should restrict yourself to

saying that the prisoners themselves must apply

according to the rules.

3. Once the question of visits in Hong Kong has

been dealt with you should go on to enquire

about visits to Grey, but without specifically

linking the two cases.

We have been considering whether or not it

would now be opportune to propose an exchange of

Grey for the imprisoned N.C.N.A. staff members.

This would of course introduce a new and possibly

complicating factor into the question of prison

Moreover there might be something to be

visits keeping

said for/this new proposal in reserve if

arrangements for visits run into difficulties.

On balance, however, we think there is advantage

wiformally

in making the suggestion to the Chinese now,

without commitment in the first instance.

If by

any chance they were now genuinely anxious to

disembarrass themselves of Grey, they could begin

considering the terms of a bargain without wasting

time cavilling over the details of visits and

comforts. Provided therefore that the Governor

of Hong Kong confirms that he has no objection

you should, as proposed in your telegram No. 375,

suggest on a personal basis at your meeting that

the best ultimate solution would be to exchange

Grey for Haueh P'ing. You might include Lo Yu-ho

in the bargain if the Chinese showed any signs of

rising to the fly.

(8430) D4033244 400m

164 G.W.B Lal. Op 343

优告

XII

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En Clair

CONFIDENTIAL

TOP COPY

IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno 383 29 December, 1967

UNCLASSIFIED

R. FIVED IN

FD13/8.

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 383 of

29 December

Repeated for information to:- Hong Kong

Hong Kong telegram No. 1922 paragraph 5. [Prison Visits).

I await your instructions.

Being

send

Mr. Hopson

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To...

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The following folios were submitted to:

...S of 5 via ile ilunay.

...3/1/62.

ilussa........

Nos.

A153455757

..........

Signature.

Date

En Clair

IMMEDIATE

FD13/8

FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING

Telno 1131

UNCLASSIFIED

TOP CUPI

26 December 1967

(FED)

Addressed to Peking telegram No. 1131 of 26 December, Repeated for information to Hong Kong.

Hong Kong telegram No.1910 tbCommonwealth Office

[of 26 December:

Prison Visits).

Would you see objection to acting as proposed in

paragraph 57

SOSFA

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PERING TELNO 1131 26-12-62

TO:

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(Signed) ...

(Department)

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Apsión teken in Communications Department :

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Telegram to:-

Pering

No. 13

[Security classification

if any

[Codeword-if any)]...

Address to

(Date). 26/12 telegram No.

And to:-

Repeat to:-

Hong Kong

2623

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Distribution:

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F.ED News

Gopres

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(4535) W1.45573,46 200m2764 G[W.B°L.{də Gp.863

J.1.R.J,

----------------

1131

repeated for information to..

Pering

...➖➖➖➖➖➖`ILLIL-+---------hrt.

(date)

gelir.

Hong Kong

Kong.

Hong Kong relegsam

No, 1910 to Commonwealth Office

[Q 26 December: Prison Visits]

Wouw you see objection to

acting as proposed in paragraph 5?

BLC 261

/Xii

Departmental Stato

ine she

CONFIDENTIAL

acts

F013/8

COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (D.T.D.)

26 December 1967

cypher/Cat A

LATE HONG KONG

Telno 1910

535

CONFIDENTIAL

Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No. 1910 or

26 December,

Repeated for information to Peking

Your telegram No. 2619 son Visits.

ре

I am afraid that it is essential from our point of view to avoid appearing to discriminate between those Left-Wing prisoners who have been sentenced for offences against the laws of the colony

The point is that the two and other prisoners in the same prisons.

categories of prisoners are living side by side; and if we were to allow the Left-Wingers obvious concessions, e.g. the right to wear special clothing we should simply be asking for trouble.

Again, it is most important to us to avoid lending colour

to imputations that existing arrangements for the welfare of prisoners are inadequate. They are in fact liberal by any standards. 5. It might, however, be possible within the existing rules to go some way towards meeting the NCNA points:-

(1) Clothing. The ordinary prison clothes are supplied in accordance with a scale laid down by the Director of Medical Services and we could not allow the NCNA men to wear anything extra. But friends of prisoners are allowed to send in clothing for individuals to wear when they are released, on condition the clothes are placed in store; and the NCRA could, if necessary, be told they might take advantage of this rule.

(ii) Foodstuffs. Christian organizations are from time to time permitted to send in reasonable amounts of food at Christmas for the welfare of prisoners. It might be possible to arrange for Chinese organisations to be permitted to do likewise at Chinese New Year, and again to let the Communists know in advance

The details would need that they could take advantage of this. carefully working out, however.

The difficulty in point 1(b, of your telegram under reference could be met quite easily if we let the NONA know that they might write to the two prisoners to suggest their asking for a special visit. It would however be necessary to emphasise that:-

(a) that such visits are personal ones to individual prisoners, and not anything like visits of inspection to the prison as a whole;

(b) whether or not to approve such visits is a matter solely for the discretion of the prison authorities.

5. Ir we were now to give a reply to the NCNA here on the lines of paragraphs 5-4 above we should of course have no guarantee of

/quid pro quo

CONFIDENTIAL

اشند

نة

CONFIDENTIAL

Kong telegram No. 1910 to Commonwealth Office (D.T.D.)

quid pro quo in respect of Grey; the local NCNA would no doubt deny any knowledge of his position and any responsibility for doing anything about it. In the circumstances it seems to us there is now a strong case for Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires making the next move and taking the problem up with the MFA in Peking. He could perhaps tell them that the NONA here have asked for certain privileges for their two reporters; point out that the reporters already enjoy privileges like regular monthly visits, and the receipt and despatch of letters which have not been accorded to Grey; and then make the point in paragraph 4 above, hinting broadly that whether or not discretion was exercised to approve special visits to the NCNA men at the New Year might well be considered in the light of what concessions were made to Grey now.

6. There might well be difficulties about the details of such an approach; but any move here at this stage could involve us in making unilateral concessions without any guarantee that we should get anything for Grey.

Foreign Office please pass Immediate to Peking as my telegram No. 677.

Sir D. Trench

[Repeated as requested]

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Telno 1909

26 December 1967

Mr. Wilson

港

ре

SECRET

Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No. 1909 of

26 December.

FC. 13/3/13

Repeated for information to Peking.FC

Peking telegram No. 369 to Foreign Office: Reuters.

I should not see objection to an oral approach on the lines of paragraph 5 of the telegram under reference. So far as Hong Kong is concerned, deportation of Hsueh Ping in exchange for Grey need not present great problems, provided that every thing possible is done to ensure that he does not return here in the near or foreseeable future.

2. In general, the more Communists we can get out of the Colony on such terms, the better. No doubt for tactical reasons it is important to seek to conclude the most favourable bargain possible over Grey, but if it proved essential we should not rule out including in the exchange at least the second NCNA man in prison (Lo Yu-Ho).

Foreign Office please pass Priority Peking as my telegram No. 676.

Sir D. Trench

[Repetition to Peking, referred for

departmental decision]

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PROLATE HONG KONG TỤ COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (DTD)

Telno 1922

CONFIDENTIAL

28 December 1967

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For3/8

Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No. 1922

28 December. Repeated for information to Peking.

FC.13/8/115.

Peking telegram No. 375: Prison Visits.

From our point of view it would be preferable if, in speaking, to the Chinese on lines of paragraph 5 of our telegram No. 1910,- Her Kajesty's Charge did not in so many words link permission for an extra visit to the two NUNA reporters with concessions to Grey; (it might be incorrect for the prison authorities to take Grey's treatment into account formally when deciding whether or not to allow the NCNA visit). But the elements of a bargain could probably be made pretty clear to the Chinese without actually spelling the matter out.

2. We would also hope that the point would be made that the actual request for the NCNA visit must come from the prisoners. There is some evidence that pro-Communist prisoners are becoming disillusioned about their former associates; and we need to have a safeguard against Communists outside prison pressing their attentions on prisoners who do not want to receive them.

3. We would see no objection to Her Majesty's Charge speaking on clothing as he suggests. On foodstuffs, however, there appear on further examination to be real difficulties. If the Communists were to be permitted to send in food parcels to prisoners at large they would be presented with something out of which they could make substantial propaganda capital; while to allow them to send parcels to the NCAA reporters only would be very difficult to justify in principle. It might be best therefore for Her Majesty's Charge to avoid this issue if he can manage to do so, and to concentrate on the general issue of visits.

... Un the general issue, to arrange for the two NCNA prisoners to be housed separately would involve considerable practical difficulties, in any case it would not be possible to find any convincing public justification at this late stage for suddenly affording them special treatment.

5. The NCNA are now pressing us for an early reply. We shall do our best to stall until the matter has been discussed in Peking; but from our point of view the sooner it is raised there the better.

Foreign Office please pass Immediate to Peking as my

telegram No. 679.

Sir D. Trench

[Repetition to Peking, referred for

departmental decision]

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Telno. 1908

CONFIDENTIAL

HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

CONFIDENTIAL

23 December 1967

M. Hace (51)

(26/12)

Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No. 1908 of 23

Repeated for information to Peking.

December

A member of the NCNA passed the following message 22 December:

to us on

Vie are

we are instructed by letter of the NČNA to ask you to convey the following request to the proper authority. preparing to send two representatives from the NCNA to pay a visit to our staff reporters now at Stanley some time around the New Year. The representatives will bring winter clothing and foodstuffs. We have also been asked by the schools, trade concerns, trade unions and other organisations to act on their behalf in asking for similar arrangements to be made for their representatives to visit the prisons, detention campe. Two representatives will represent each organisation and they can go on separate dates 28 arranged between you and us'. He asked for an early reply. He telephoned later to say that the second sentence should have read:

we are preparing to send two official representatives frop NCNA to pay a visit to our staff reporters as well as the reportera of other newspapers that are now at Stanley and at other prisons sometime around the New Year'

Our prison rules are as follows:-

(a) no persons other than relations and friends shall be allowed to visit prisoners except by special authority; visits may be made once a month, but extra visite can be approved. Although there is no rule to this effect, there is a standing order that requeate for an extra visit must originate with the prisoner.

(b) the rules provide that a prisoner may receive and send one letter every four weeks, unlimited number of letters.

In practice he may receive an There would therefore be little

difficulty for NCNA in prompting a prisoner to request an extra visit.

3. It seems very likely that this is an attempt to get a large quid pro quo from us in return for a concession to Gray. ho have had intimatione from secret sources that a propaganda campaign about the prisoners was to be developed around the New Year. A great deal of play could be made of the "Comfort Missions" implied in the second half of the message; though the penultimate sentence might mean that the Communiata are suggesting that the whole exercise could be phased over a period of time. In any event we cannot openly give preferential treatment to left wing prisoners since this would have an extremely bad effect on the morale and discipline of other prisonera.

CONFILENTIAL

140

CONFIDENTIAL

HƯNG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 1908 TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

-2-

I do not think that in any circumstances we could go outside the prison rules and e.g. agree to visitors bringing

But I would not exclude clothing and foodstuffe,

initially agreeing to a visit by two NONA officials to their two staff reportere, if it could be arranged in accordance with the rules. It would be open then to Her Hajesty's Chargé d'Affaires in Peking to report developments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and request again access to Orey. As far as visits to other prisoners in Hong Kong are concerned, I would prefer to do no more than tell the NCNA what the rules

arc.

Foreign Office please pass Immediate to Peking as my tele- gram No. 675.

Sir D. Trench

(Repetition to Peking referred

for departmental decision)

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

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ADVANCE COPIES SENT

CONFIDENTIAL

Cypher/Cat A

CONFIDENTIAL

IMMED TE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno 372

RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES No.31

25 DEC 1967

25 December 1967

FD13/8

TUP CONT

CONFIDENTIAL

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 372 of 25 December. Repeated for information to Hong Kong.

Hong Kong telegram No. 1908 to Commonwealth Office and your telegram No. 2619′ to Hong Kong: Prison Visits.

I agree with the comments in your telegram under reference. I think a distinction must be drawn between the proposed visits to the NCNA staff and those to other prisoners and I very much hope that the Governor will find it possible to allow visit plus food and clothing for NCNA prisoners. Otherwise I see no chance of our getting a visit or probably even another parcel to Grey. I realize this means discriminatory treatment; but the Chinese have made it plain that Hseh Ping at least is Grey's opposite number, so that progress with Grey's case means recognizing that Hsch Ping, and possibly other NCNA prisoners, are in a special category.

2. Again I hope we do not press the requirement that extra visits should be at prisoner's own request. We have no communication with Grey and if such a rule were applied here he would be unable to make his wishes known.

3. If, as I hope, a visit with comforts to the NCNA prisoners is allowed, I would, as suggested by the Governor, report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs again requesting access to Grey,

Foreign Office pass Immediate Hong Kong 193.

Mr. Hopson

[Repeated as requested]

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

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Q9Q2Q

CONFIDENTIAL

Saperate deci

ра

pa tes

FD138

CONFIDENTIAL

CYPHER/CAT A

IMMEDIATE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG (D.T.D.)

TELNO 2619

CONFIDENTIAL

23 DECEMBER 1967

(F)

See Sus

ADDRESSED TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO.2619 OF 23 DECEMBER REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING.

YOUR TELEGRAM NO.1988: PRISON VISITS.

WE SHARE YOUR GENERAL ASSESSMENT OF THE CHINESE TACTICS. IN THE CASE OF THE TWO NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY STAFF REPORTERS, WE HAVE HOWEVER TWO PRELIMINARY COMMENTS.

(A)

IT WOULD BE A PITY IF, AS THE RESULT OF A DIRECT REFUSAL TO ALLOW CLOTHING AND FOODSTUFFS TO GO TO THE STAFF REPORTERS, GREY WERE TO E REFUSED FUTURE COMFORTS. (IT MAY BE SIGNIFICANT THAT, AS REPORTED IN PEKING TELEGRAM NO.312, THE CHINESE TOOK THE INITIATIVE IN INFORMING OUR MISSION THAT THEIR PARCEL HAD BEEN DELIVERED TO GREY). WE FULLY RECOGNISE THAT THE TWO CASES ARE NOT PARALLEL IN THAT YOU ARE MERELY APPLYING STANDARD RULES TO CONVICTED PRISONERS, WHILE THE CHINESE HAVE NOT EVEN PREFERRED CHARGES AGAINST GREY. BUT THIS IS A DISTINCTION WHICH THE CHINESE WILL CERTAINLY REFUSE TO MAKE. IS IT QUITE OUT OF THE QUESTION TO ACCORD THIS PRIVILEGE TO THE STAFF REPORTERS, WHILE WITHOLDING IT FROM OTHER PRISONERS?

(B)

WE WOULD HOPE THAT, IN THE CASE OF THE STAFF REPORTERS, IT MIGHT NOT BE NECESSARY TO INSIST ON THE REQUIREMENT THAT REQUESTS FOR EXTRA VISITS MUST ORIGINATE WITH THE PRISONER, IT COULD OF COURSE STAND FOR THE OTHER PRISONERS.

2. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND THOSE OF THE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES IN PEKING.

CROSEC

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.O. F.E.D.

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CONSULAR DEPT.

0.0.

H.K. DEPT.

FFFFF

L.W.

CONFIDENTIAL

TELEGRAM SECTION

Room 124 K.C.S.

Communications Department

F.E.D

*Please send copies of the following telegram

Copy/ies of the following telegram has/have been sent

(* delete as applicable)

TO:

619 to Stong Kong (ott) 23/%7

Stong Kong. N.C.NA Reporters Disti

(Signed)

(Department).......

(Date).....

(Initials)......

Action taken in Communications Department:

سلام

(Date) 27 ( 67

AFTER ACTION THIS FORM SHOULD BE SENT TO

THE APPROPRIATE ARCHIVES DIVISION FOR RETENTION

156397 500 Pada 2/66-McC & Co Ltd-K.16430 (9609)

YTC/1

1325123

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Registry No.

DEPARTMENT

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION PRIORITY MARKINGS

Top Secret

Secret

Confidential

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Unclassified

Flash

Immediate Priority Routine

• Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should

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700

53/12

(49

---------

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

En Clair. Code Cypher

Draft Telegram to:-

No. 2619

(Date)

And to:-

عاد

CONFIDENTIAE

[Secur

Security classification"

if any -if

[

Privacy marking --if any

------

[Codeword-if any]

Sovannar Hong Kong

Addressed to

telegram No. 2619

(date)

23 December

And to

3/12 repeated for information to Peking (IMMEDIATE)]

Repeat toe PEKIJK 1127

Saving to:- Mr Carter (c...) Osve

Distribution:-

FO. FE.D.

Hans deft

C.o.

H.K.B Copies to:

Irr

LILI-LIN

Saving to

-------

--1-1

י-י-י- T

Juur tel No 1908 [4/23 Des]: Prison visits.

We share

general assessment of the

youn general

Chaiene tasting.

Света

In the

the cast

of the two

Nus

China News Agency staff reporters, we haver Lowear

fure proliminary comments.

(a) It would be a

бра

pety if, as the result of a

direct reghoul to allows clothing and foodstuffe

to the staff reporters, SREY were to be refused future conforts. (It may

significant that, as reported

No 317.

все

Pching tax

the Chinese tooth the initiative in

informing

on maccion

that this parreal had

been delivers

to SREY). We fully muge

that/

that the two casso

that

not parallel in

You are merely efflying standard be

I convicted prisoners, while the Chiness £

have not even profered changes against

Sky

But this is

chistration whind the

thier will certainly refers to wanker.

it quite out of the question to accoal thai

similege to the staff reporter.

witholeling it from other prisoners?

(6) Header Life that, in the case

Shil

the

stop reports, it might not be missing

I insistin

the

regorii

blat requeste поднять

not originate with the

prisoner.

It could of

cowy?

stand for

the other

produs.

bike should be grateful for your commente

and there of

the Chargé

време.

Oce.

'Affawns in Peking.

(8430) DL081246

G.W.ELLA Op.201

23112

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

GYPLET

CYPHER/CAT A

ROUTINE HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 1896

RECEIVED IN [ARCHIVES No 31

*2 3 FEB 1968.

13/8

TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

| 21. DECEMBER 1967 Ads.HR.

L FAD.

148A

CONFIDENTIAL ADDRESSED PEKING TELEGRAM 670 OF 21 DECEMBER REPEATED

0.0.

YOUR TELEGRAM 186.

THE RULES ARE THAT PRISONERS MAY SEND AND RECEIVE ONE LETTER EVERY

FOUR WEEKS BUT MAY WITH SPECIAL PERMISSION SEND AND RECEIVE MORE. NO

PARCELS ARE ALLOWED BUT READING MATTER (SUBJECT TO CENSORSHIP) MAY

BE RECEIVED AT ANY TIME.

2. HSUEH PING HAS RECEIVED ONLY ONE LETTER CON 19 DECEMBER) AND SENT

SEPTEMBER NONE OUT. HE HAS RECEIVED ONE BOOK EACH ON 25 AUGUST AND 29 3052-194

TWO EACH ON 7 AND 13 DECEMBER.

3. LUO YU-HO HAS SENT ONE LETTER CON 2 OCTOBER) AND RECEIVED NONE.

HE HAS RECEIVED 3 BOOKS ON 22 NOVEMBER, 14 MAGAZINES ON 13 DECEMBER

11 MAGAZINES ON 14 DECEMBER AND 3 BOOKS ON 19 DECEMBER. NEITHER HE

NOR HSUẸH HAS MADE REQUESTS FOR SPECIAL MAIL FACILITIES OR EXTRA

VISITS.

F.O. PLEASE PASS PEKING 670.

пазва что с

Filo co HiR. D

A FB.

GOVERNOR.

збрках

1 MN. Bates ; File

di I Trendly R. 129

3 ADR.

Blasnodal as regte

+ Jop R. 117

8ZXZH

SENT 08382 21 DECEMBER 1967

RECD 0843Z 21 DECEMBER 1967

J..

[Signature]

[Date]

DISTRIBUTION

(9780), 232641. 1,200 pad. 1767. (9966), 391758, 1700 PADI.

Code-or Code R

480.

3. 09.999/167.

INWARD TELEGRAM

Cypher/OTP Cat A

---

FROM...

Peking

Me Hopson

No.

359

20 DECEMBER

L.FIILIL

DSY 16

IOP COPY

[Distribution

Heading]

TO......

F.O

D. 07:30 hrs 2 2012

R$59

[Priority)MMEDIATE

RECEIVED IN [ARCHIV) | Na 3

200EC 1967

Confidential. FD13/8 "Addressed to Hongkong telus 186 Za Decouters repeated for infern to Foreign Office.

Please telegraph details

of mail facilitie's granted to NCNA members serving prison sentences. How of ton are they allowno' letters and parcell's Do they in fact receive them?

HongKong to pass immediate 186

торно

زم

هر سینے میں

VopySent 716.

عماد

쩝

ADVANCE COPIES TO:-

H.K Ryt

2.29 3 ADL

Tupt 1017

PRIORITY HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTI OFFICE (UTD)

Telno 1845

UNCLASSIFIED

9 December 1967

Addressed to Peking telegram No. 658 of 9 December. Reped for information to Commonwealth diffice.

Your telegram No. 162.

-F01378 (46

I ACEIVED IN

WES NO.31

¡ 1 DEC 1967

| FD13/8

Facts are that at 2010 on 5 December a police party observed that traffic was being held up outside the Nanyang Theatre by two objects on the tram tracks. The area was cordoned off in the interests of safety and when the bomb disposal team arrived they dragged the objects off the tram tracks and away from the main road. The objects were then surrounded by sandbags and detonated. No damage of any description was caused to buildings, motor vehicles or persons. As it happens the place of detonation was near the Nanyang Theatre and the New China News Agency Building. The police report that there was no difficulty whatsoever in keeping the area clear of people and no incidents of any sort arose. No (repeat no) chemical mace was used. We are quite convinced therefore that this protest is entirely without foundation and is an attempt by certain local elements to create trouble for obvious reasons.

C.0. pass Priority Peking No. 658.

Sir D. Trench

[Repeated as requested]

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

C.O.

H.K. Dept.

I. & G. Dept.

News Dept.

F.O. F.E.D.

J.I.R.D.

J.I.P.G.D.

News Dept.

O.L.A. O.P.A.

DIS MOD

ра

уй

En Clair

PRIORITY PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

RECTIVED IN

47) No.31

Í 1DEL 1967

Ino 320

8 December 1967

FD13

UNCLASSIFIED

Addressed to Hong Kong telegram No. 162 of 8 December Repeated for information to Foreign Office

(4L)

i+5

Your telegrams Nos. 1824 and 1827 to Commonwealth

Office.

As this story about chemical spray has appeared in Hsinhua Item 120618, I should be grateful to receive authoritative version of the facts.

Mr. Hopson

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.O. F.E.D.

C.G. Hong Kong Dept.

рад

EN CLAIR

HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (D.T.D.)

elno 1827

6 December 1967

UNCLASSIFIED

No 31

!FD1318

Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No.1827 of 6 December. Repeated for information to Peking,

My telegram No. 1824.

Detailed investigation now reveals that at no time during the disposal of the two fake bombs was there any difficulty in keeping the area in the immediate vicinity of the bombs clear and no use was made of chemical mace. It is probably relevant that after the disposal a poster was put up outside the left wing Nanyang Theatre alleging that the police had deliberately pulled the bombs to the vicinity of the theatre, had in exploding then damaged a statue of Chairman Mao and sprayed employees in the theatre with poison gas. The whole of this therefore seems to be an attempt to fabricate an incident.

Sir D. Trench

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION C.O. H.K.D.

I. & G.D.

News Dept.

F.O. F.E.D.

J.I.K.D. J.I.P.G.D. News Dept.

O.L.A. O.P.A. DIS MOD

VWWWV

تا

SEAR

En Clair

FAR KEY HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

(D.T(K)

Telno 1824

UNCLASSIFIED

6 December 1967

F013/1

Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No. 1824 of 6 December

Repeated for information to Peking

Very minor incident involving a staff member of the NCNA office occurred last night when the police were dealing with a suspected bomb in the vicinity of the NCNA premises. It appears that despite innumerable police warnings about danger to bystanders a member of the NCNA staff stayed watching the proceedings and was as a consequence sprayed with chemical mace:

2. Last night Mr. Poon of the NCNA made an oral protest about the matter to the Assistant Political Adviser. This morning the Left Wing Press publishes a formal protest by the whole staff of the NCNA. This alleges that the police dragged the suspected bombs near the NCNA building before detonating them, that the spraying of the staff member was another deliberate nad provocation and that the Hong Kong Government had engaged in a whole series of attacks on the "patriotic" Press. It culminates in a demand for an apology, compensation and a guarantee that such incidents would not recur.

3. The point was made orally to the NCNA that people should not stand round watching the detonation of bombs when the police had asked them not to do so.

Sir D. Trench

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

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I. & G. Dept.

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J.I.R.D.

J.I.P.G.D. News Dept.

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DIS MOD

متر

→ |

Ed (4206)

Reference..

FD 13 18

FOLIOS (42)+43) TRANS FORKED

To FC 3/20 (136) +137

Respectively

Cypher/Cat A

RESTRICTED

3/44 175

RIVED IN |

No 31.

2 NOV 1967 |

FD1318

IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (D.T.D.)

Telno. 1774

RESTRICTED

28 November 1967

Addressed to Peking telegram No. 633 of 28 November, Repeated for information to Commonwealth Office.

paragraph 3. F23) 3 182

Your telegram No. 273 paragraph 3.

Semo

Hsueh Ping has been visited by his wife (Lee Kwok Fai) on 20 July, 14 August, 12 September, 20 October and 10 November. On 14 August two persons accompanied his wife but were refused access because they refused to identify themselves. However, on 12 September and subsequent visits she was accompanied by Lam Fuk (2651/1788) and Yuen Kwok Kong (7086/0948/0342) both of whom are staff members of the New China News Agency.

Commonwealth Office please pass Peking Immediate 633.

Sir D. Trench.

[Repeated as requested)

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

0.0.

H.K.D. I. & G.D.

News Dept.

F.E. & P.D.

F.O.

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р.а.

DDDDD

J.I.P.G.D.

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News Dept. D.I.S.M.O.D.

RESTRICTED

Timis was said

rebegram from thay Kong

With the Compliments of the

Political Adviser

Hong Kong M. Wilym

Fww

تل

SCR 6/2621/67

SECRET

November 9tlı, 1967.

RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES Non 31

Hauch Ping

Ping

Fc131876

F01318

Would you please refer to the correspondence_resting

with your telegram No. 100 of 30th September to the Foreign Office about visits to Hsueh Ping in prison.

I am afraid that we cannot be very helpful over this. The regulations governing visits to prisoners are very clear and the only way, short of enacting yet more new legislation, of preventing visits to Hsueh Ping would be to bend the regulations quite blatantly. We do not wish to do this because, apart from other more general considerations, we have based our action against the communist law breakers here entirely on the need to maintain law and order strictly and impartially. Wo have followed the logic of this through as far as the charging of 3 policemen with the murder of a communist trouble-maker while in gaol custody. We have had some difficulty in persuading people of the purity of our motives and should not wish therefore to undermine our position by obviously discriminating against an N.C.N.A. smployee.

I am sending a copy of this letter to Geminara in the Commonwealth Office and to Denson in the Foreign Office,

See münte ar-38.

I fear the in the right

P. Cradock, Esq.,

p.a.

answer.

Office or H.M. Charge d'Affaires, PEKING.

있

(E.T. Davies)

you

SECREI

Cypher/Cat A

Copris also entend

F23/20R

Fc22/7

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVED IN

V.XVES NË 31 ¡MUCT 1967

ITY PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno 146

CONFIDENTIAL

13 October 1967

FD13/8

Addressed to Foreign Orfice telegram No. 146 of 13 October. Repeated for information to Hong Kong.

I well understand for reason given in nong kong telegram No. 1501 a gesture or amnesty by nong kong Government would be difficult at any time and particularly so at present moment. The recent Chinese protest and accompanied publicity in Chinese Press reinforces this point I think we must wait in hope some thing in this line may be possible if propitious moment arrives.

Hungchow incident also makes it less advisable to attempt any immediate relaxatien or movement restrictions in London. By taking inititive now we might seem to be giving way to Chinese pressure and contact between Chinese subassy and Chinese ships wight lead to further trouble. Again it would seen better to wait until temperature has fallen slightly before making a Love.

FL13/8

the Chinese 3. In the meantime we shall continue to remind of our outstanding applications for exit visas on medical grounds. It may be that they will allow women and children out in small numbers over a period. There is nowever a possibility that they may prefer to play game as if the burning had never occured. un this hypothesis they would be unreceptive to visa applications simply for women and children but may grant exit visas for time- expired members of staff and their families if replacementa were offered. See my immediately following telegram not to all) for details. I do not think that the time as quite arrived for this last gambit but I think we should now be considering possible replacements so that we would be ready

Foreign Office pass to Hong Kong 51.

aborti

FC3/20

Fez:!>

Mr. Hopson

dent 07202 13 October Recd 12092 13 October

[Repeated as requested?

FU/CO/WI. DISTRIBUTION

F.E.D.

Fersonnel Dept.

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LEKER

CONFIDENTIAL

(5690) AOSL

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

CONFIDENTIAL

to 31

Minutes

Flag A(3

Flag B(37)

Kr. Depron

FD13/8

ACCELS TO IMPRISONED JOURNALISTS

Peking have recommended with some just- ification (Peking telegram No. 124) that no visit shoulu be allowed to Hauch Ping (the N.C.N.A. Journalist imprisoned in Hong Kong) unless the Chinese allow similar visits to Grey. Hong Kong have pointed out that their present regulations make it extremely diffi- cult to treat Hauch differently from other people and that all prisoners are by law allowed to be visited by "relatives and friegs once a month (Hong Kong telegram No. 1487).

2. I have discussed this with Hr. Gaminara of the Commonwealth Office, who says that they cannot see any alternative to accepting the Governor's recommendations that visits should be allowed to continue. They think that it would be undesirable to establish ■ special category of prisoners and particularly so if it was necessary to pass a new Ordinance in order to prevent visits to Hsueh.

Reluctantly, I cannot see any alternativ: to accepting these arguments. I fear it i that we have less chance of putting pressure on the Chinese to allow visits to Grey but I do not think that in any case that cutting off visits to Hsueh would force the Chinese to be more lenient.

4. The real problem is what to do about Grey in the long term. I think there can be little doubt that he will not be released until Haueh is released or deported from Hong Kong. If this is so, it is only a question of deciding on the best time to arrange an exchange. Ideally we would hope to do this after it had been demonstrated that the Hong Kong Government had won its confrontation with the beal communists, and the situation had became calmer. In these circumstances it might be possible to arrange an exchange without either encouraging the Hong Kong com- munists or showing the Chinese that their

blackmail tactics ware successful and sould be repeated. This ideal situation will howeve not exist for sometime. In the Heanwhile, Grey will languish in Peking and his morale will doubtles suffer. It is also possible that demands will begin to be made in this. country that more should be done to secure his release (articularly after Parliament re-assembles) and such demands might make it harder to secure some reasonable arrangements with the Chinese.

I therefore suggest, that in answering this telegram we should also revert to the

CONFIDENTIAL

/question

CONFIDENTIAL

Minnes

question of exchanging Grey for Hsueh. We could ask Peking and Hong Kong whether they think that it might be an appropriate time to sound out the Chinese on this in a further three weeks. I submit a draft telegram.

سے

(D. C. #11 on) Wilson) 12 October. 1967

This has bem overtaken

Peking Pelegram No. 146. commenting

No. 1501

Mant.

NORT

Hong Kong Kul.

to Co

No actin

24/1

I have

manurd

recur lette

letter

197xi

separ with

from Peterning

ow Versi

have given ow

мей

Mr Gaminara, c.o.

This will have

t aren't

for the mompres

p.a.

ONFIDENTIAL

7 13/100

107/20

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

CYPHER/CAT A

CONFIDENTIAL

PRIORITH HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

те

1487

CONFIDENTIAL

4 October 1967

(D.T.D.)

F013/8.

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No 31ţ

10 OCT 1967 →

Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No.1487 of 4 October.

Repeated for information to Peking.2/38/76.

Peking telegram No. 100 to Foreign Office:

Prison Visits.

Hauch Ping is a prisoner Visits to such people

Unfortunately, we have a real difficulty. convicted in the courts of a criminal offence. are governed by the "prison rules" made by the Governor-in-Council in 1954 in pursrance of the Prisons Ordinance (CAP. 234, Section 25). The relevant portion [paragraph 48 on page A-18) reads as follows:-

"No persons other than relatives are friends of a prisoner, shall be allowed to visit him except by special authority.

Such visits by relatives and friends shall, subject to such restrictions as may be imposed for the maintenance of discipline and order in the prison and for the prevention of crime, be allowed in the manner following

(a) They shall be allowed to visit a prisoner once a month and

no more than three persons shall be allowed at one time;...

2. Hence, under the existing law it is not open to us to forbid visits to Hsueh Ping unless they should constitute a threat to discipline and good order, which so far they have not.

The law could of course be amended by the Governor-in-Council. But it would be extremly difficult to draw an amendment which discriminated against the particular class of prisoner in question; and in any case discriminatory enactment of this kind, besides being objectionable in principle, would be certain at this particular time to attract a great deal of attention and controversy.

3. My reluctant conclusion is that matters had best be left as they are, but I should welcome your views.

Please pass Peking telegram No. 565.

Sir D. Trench

Sent 07382 5 October

Recd. 07452 5 October

[Repetition to Peking referred for departmental decision]

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

C.0. H.K.D.

F.0.

I. & G.D.

F.E.D. News Dept. J.I.R.D.

Sepwal

1-414

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5/10

VVVVV

CONFIDENTIAL

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Registry No.

DEPARTMENT

FD13/8.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secret

Secret

Confidential

Restricted

Unclassified

PRIORITY MARKINGS

Flash Immediate Priority Routine

}

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

reach addressce(a)

(Date).............

Despatched

---|·

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

En Clair. Code Cypher

Draft Telegram to :-

[Security classification]

-if

[

Privacy marking -if any

[Codeword-if any]

Addressed to

-----OIL' LIILIILILY.

Peking

No...

CONFIDENTIAL

PERING

SUSPEND

#+++++++ -Tr

w.36

...

LJIL..

----

telegram No..

ILJJL

(date) ....

--------------------IJILILII----II YLL H➖➖ --➖➖➖ TOILIJALLOTZPI

And to

tion to ....

HONG KONG

K.........JJLELEGJENDEN H rakas rakov¬ıkı--------- COPIESATELLITE

(Date)

+++

And to:-

repeated for information to

POYILIN.... PP‒‒

1. PINPOIISTIILII ng dresseerdızıKIELIKTJI.....................TIZA

Repeat to:-

Hong Kong

Saving to:-

Saving to.......

. ...

- torbasın bulun

Your telegram No. 124: Prison Visits.

We realise that continued visits to Hsueh maice

(Contrast Sharply with Chinese failure to be anore it harder to persuade the

› to be more lenient

about Grey, but do not think that it would be wise

for Hong Kong to create a special category of

prisoners at this stage by bending the regulations

to deny access to Hsueh or passing a special Ordinanc

(relax beally

to cover cases such as his. We therefore agree/

with the Governor's recommendation that the matter

is best left as it is.

Distribution:-

Day!

Copies to:-

At some stage we will almost certainly have

ச to try to arrange exchang borey for Hsueh.

Ideally

we would wish to do this after the situation in

Hong Kong had returned to normal but this is likely

to take some time, and we do not wish hlez Grey

to remain under house arrest and incommunicado for

/80

so long. Grateful for your views on whether

there would be any hope of success if we tried

in about three weeks time to suggest an exchange

to the Chinese Grateful also for the views of

Hong Kong on whether such an exchange if success-

at that Time Ladversely 3

Efect on the situation wi

rull

would neve e o

(the longer Karm

bluse by encouraging the local communists to committ

with impanatay in

imprenely

The knowled

that they would always be reprieve in the

long run.

(8430) 14.033246 600m

O.W.B Ltd. Op 143

NOTHING TO BE Written in THIS MARGIN

CONFIDENTIAL

Cypher/Cat A

RECEIVED ARCHIV:

PRIORITY PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

1 C OCT 196/

Telno 124

9 October, 1967

336

TOP DO Y

CO.IDENTIAL

FP 13/8.

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No.124 of 9 October, Repeated for information to Hong Kong,

Hong Kong telegram to Commonwealth Office No.1487: Prison Visits.

13/8

NTF.

I realize Hong Kong Government's considerable difficulties in this matter and am hardly qualified to engage in controversial conflagration of the matter of legal interpretation. From ordinance quoted however it would seem that visits by relatives and friends are subject to "such restrictions as may be imposed for prevention of crime". It is arguable that visit to prisoner by relatives and NCNA colleagues, particularly colleagues, are likely only to encourage further crime in Hong Kong both by maintaining morale of prisoner and his colleagues and by allowing prisoner to give advice on further conduct of Communist Press campaign. It would follow that restrictions on such visits would be restrictions for prevention of crime within the meaning of the ordinance.

2. If this is accepted it would be possible by administrative measures and without amendment of the ordinance to restrict

or deny visit to Hsueh Ping by his colleagues, if not by his wife. I realize this may seem to be straining the wording of the ordinance but I must ask that we make every possible effort to establish real reciprocity of treatment and ensure that NONA prisoners enjoy no solace which is denied to Grey.

Foreign Office please pass Priority Hong Kong 40.

Mr. Hopson

Sent 01002/9 October Recd 06252/9 October

[Repeated as requested]

DEPARTMENTAL DIS TRIBUTION

дерегей тичий

F.O. F.E.D.

J.I.R.D.

News Dept.

C.O. H.K.D.

I. & G.D.

Jeday

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CONFIDENTIAL

TELEGRAM SECTION

Room 124 K.C.S.

Communications Department

F.E.D.

* Please-send-copies of the following telegram-

*Copy/ies of the following telegram has/have been sent

(* delete as applicable)

TO:

160.631

68.

13/8.

From Peking:

2. september 69

YTC/1

Hong Kong Situation (+ China's attitude)

(Initials)......

(Signed)

(Department)...

(Date)....

Action taken in Communications Department:

ko...............

(Date)...

21/7/67

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PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

CEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

Telno 68

UNCLASSIFIED

20 September 1967

21 SEP 1967

3013/8

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 63A of

20 September. Repeated for information to Hong Kong.

People's Daily of 19 September carries a report dated 15 September of a atatement issued on that day in the name of the All China Journalista Federation, the People's Daily and NOWA protesting against the sentences passed on the NCNA and four other journalists in Hong Kong on 13 September. The statement demands that all journalists in detention should be released, the judgments against the three "patriotic" newspapers cancelled compensation paid and those responsible punished.

Mr. Hopson

FO/CO/WH. DISTRIBUTION F.Z.D.

FEEEE

Sent 0745Z 20 September Recd 10072 20 September

ह

CONFIDENTIAL

Cypher/Cat A

PRIORITY HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (D.T.D.)

lno. 1398

16 September 1967

RECEIVED N ARCHIVES No.31

HIVES

1. SEP 1967

CONFIDENTIAL

FD13181

My telegrams Nos. 1269 and 1394: Reuters correspondent in Peking and N.Č.N.A. Personnel in Hong Kong.

On 12 September Hsueh Ping received the normal monthly visit from his wife. She was accompanied by two employees of the N.C.N.A. and, in accordance with normal prison practice here, these were also admitted to see him after giving their names. To have prevented these men from seeing Hsuch would have implied deliberate discrimination against him as compared with other prisoners.

2. No doubt N.C.N.A. will assume that we deliberately allowed the visit as a special act of policy. There may therefore be something to be said for an attempt now to arrange a visit to Gray, who we assume to be still under house arrest and incommunicado,

0.A.G.

Sent 0355Z 16 September Recd 0358Z 16 September

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

C.0. H.K. W.I.D. "C"

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J.I.P.G.D. J.I.R.D.

Tel. Sent to

77777

CONFIDENTIAL

En Clair

HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (DTD)

Telno 1384

UNCLASSIFIED

14 September, 1967

SEP 1967 FD13/8

Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No. 1384

of 14 September

Repeated for information to:- PA Singapore

Five reporters charged with taking part in an intimidating assembly and ultering inflammatory speeches, were each sentenced to three years imprisonment at the Kowloon District Court yesterday. As was expected, both the accused and some fifty people in the public gallery shouted protests when sentences were passed. Order was restored quickly and three women in the gallery who had started the demonstration were inunedintely sentenced to fourteen days for contempt of court. They continued to protest until removed from court.

2. The five reporters concerned ware:- Ng Shui-Shing, Ching Po Dally News!

Lam Yuk-Wo, New China News Agency:

Wong Yap-Lau, Wou Wei Pro:

Chan Chi-Fung, Commercial Daily News:

and a woman,

Wong Ling of Ta Kung Pao.

All five wore observed by the Police on 29 July in Kowloon leading an unruly group of school children (about 100) in slogan shouting and singing. They were arrested after a brief car chase' by the four detectives who had observed them at their work of incitement over a period of at least fifteen minutes.

0.A.G.

Sent 08557 Read 0X0Z

11, Baptamber, 1967 JA September, 196/

DEPARTMENTAL DJSINTHUPTION

C.O. HI.K.W.L.D. "C"

I.G.D.

News Daul

F.O. F.E.D.

bbbbh

J.I.P.G.D.

J.I.R.U.

Oversons Labour Adviser

ре

[

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVED IN

32 ARCHIVES No.31,

1 8 SEP 1967

Cypher/Cat.A.

IMMEDIATE

HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

FD1318 (0.4.0)

lne. 1394 15 September, 1967.

CONFIDENTIAL

No action required Thas lenn

On 13 September, Pun Tak-sing, Vice Editor-in-Chief of the lecal NCNA effice, telephoned the Assistant Political Adviser to pretest at what he termed the beating up and injuring on 11 September by Prisen Warder No. 869 of the NCNA correspondent Hsack Ping he is serving a two-year prison sentence (see my telegram No. 430 of 20 July to Peking). Pon demanded that the culprit be punished and that we guarantee no recurrence of such action, drew our attention to the Foreign Ministry's statement regarding patristic journalists in Hong Kong and said that the Foreign Ministry would be informed of this matter. promised an enquiry into his allegation.

2. Pon's tone was firm but not hostile.

He was

3. Our preliminary enquiries reveal that on 11 September there was an incident involving Hsueh Ping, during which his cell door was shut smartly upon him by the warder in question. Ping lodged a complaint that he had been punched in the chest and "alightly hurt" when his arm was #qeezed in the cell door. was medically examined and no evidence of external injury was discovered. It appears that the incident was prevoked by Hanch and that his complaint is groundless. (It is probably not a coincidence that the incident occurred the day before he was due to receive the monthly visit from his wife,)

day berere

The channel for this protest is unusual. In the past the NCNA have normally discussed matters of this sert with Special Branch; although the Assistant Political Adviser spoke to Pun last month about the possibility of exchanging visits to Haach Ping and Grey in Poking, it is perhaps significant that no mention of the prison incident has yet appeared in the Communist Press here although on 14 September they printed a pretest by the Director of the NCNA office at the sentencing of anether NCNA Journalist (see my telegram No. 1384).

O.A.G. Sent 10142 15 September,

Read, 10252 15 September.

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

C.0. H.K. & W.I.D. "C"

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F.O. F.E.D.

44444

J.I.P.G.D.

J.I.R.D. O.P.A. O.L.A.

CONFIDENTIAL

3.3

ADVANCE COPIES SETT

By Bag

TUKYO TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno 18 Saving

UNCLASSIFIED

SAVING TELEGRAM

-ELEIVED

* No 31

TOP COF

30 August 1967

COFL

FD13/83

Addressed to Governor Hong Kong telegram No. 74 of 30 August. Repeated for information Saving to Foreign Office.

Yoshihiko Hanawa a reporter of the influential monthly magazine Chuo Koron accompanied by Professor Mineo Nakajima of Tokyo University of Languages, a well-known expert in Chinese affairs, plans to visit Hong Kong for two weeks from 4 or 5 September. The object is to prepare a special supplement on the Hong Kong political situation to be published by Chuo Koron in their October issue.

2. Hanawa feels that the British position is not sufficiently understood in Japan and is keen to meet and talk with British officials. He speaks English fairly well. He would also welcome a chance to interview any senior person in the Government.

We have asked Hanowa to contact you on his arrival.

Mr. Shaw

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.O. F.E.D.

J.1.P.G.D.

C.O. H.K. & W.I.D. 'C'

PPPPP

Received 4 September 1967

1022

Forsie

With the compliments of

THE OFFICE OF

THE BRITISH CHARGÉ D'AFFAIRES

With reference to Peking Tel 1116

Foreign Office.

PEKING

робове,

ра

21 August 1967.

zu No. 442

(Transistion);

RECEIVED IN LARCHIVES No.31

1967

FD13/8

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People'

ats of China make the Office of the British Charge G'Affairen immediately to transmit the following to the buy·les Government.

7:e "ritish authorities in Hongkong have carried tų series of frantic political persecutions against The patriotic Chinese press and journalists in Bongkong- texa haw now developed to an extremely grave extent.

Daring the past two months and more, the British mathorities have, by means of illegal kidnapping, unwar- pantedly arrested Rauch Fing, Cher Feng-ying, Chen Teh- m and to Tu-ho, correspondents of the Hongkong Branch of

• Heinhua Xeve Agency; Liu Chu-ping and Huang Ti-liu, importera af van Yai Pao; Tan Seu-chun, Lo Haieng-jung

•ang King, reporters of Ta Kung Pao; Liang Li-yi ani

dao-ven, reporters of the Kev Bvening Post; Chen Tan, reporter of the hongkong Commercial Daily; Wu medin ang reporter of the Ching Po Daily; and Rau Yun- nens, correspondent of the Bconomio Reporter In a further arbitrary move on August 9, the British authorities ill-

1) arrastad Hu Ti-chou, Director of the Hongkong Evenir. Sovet Far Huai-wel, Director, and Chen Yen-ahuan, publisher

* the Tan Pang Dully Hova: Li Shao-hsiung, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ham Cheung Printing Co.Ltd. topalimmer of the Hongkong Commercial Daily and Chai man-hui, Pronger of the Company. On August 17, the British

tle British Charge d'Affaires in China,

suthorities even went so far as to brazenly order the Hong- kong Evening News, the Tin Pung Daily Tews and the Afternoor Kewa to cease publiontios and initiated illegal lawmaite against Ta Kung Pao, the Ching Po Dally and the Ham Cheung Printing Co. Ltd, and the Hongkong Press Enterprise Ltd. that undertook the printing of patriotic Chinese newspapers. On August 19, the British authorities again dispatched armed police and special agents to assault the offices of the Hongkong Evening Reve, the Tin Pung Daily News and the Afternoon Kaws and illegally arrested 34 staff members of

News

these papara.

The towering orizes committed by the British autho- rities in sanguimarily suppressing the patriotic Chinese in Hangsong and howloon have aroused indignation among the mu-

tire Chinese people. It is entirely just for the patriotic Chinese press and journalists in longkong and Kowloon to Teport truthfully and expose these fascist atrocities, as

it is their sacred duty to do so. The British authoritier la Hongkong bitterly hate and sortally dread them, and have now cɔacoated various trumped-up charges to carry out all kinds of brutal political persecution against them in at attempt to suppress the patriotic opinion and muffle the voice of justice and truth. This sen only serve to tho- roughly reveal before the people of the world the Britian Government's utterly hideous and ferocious features as

fanciut imperialien

The Chinese Government hereby once again lodges the most urgent and the strongest protest with the British vover:zent and šolemnly states that the British Governaert and the British authorities in Hongkong mat, within 48 hours, cancel the ban on the Hongkong Brening News, the 2in Fung Daily News and the Afternoon Keum, deolare the above-mentioned 19 patriotic Chinese journalista and 34 staff neubers

innoeest and

against fa In Printing Oo, že and using it 20 and printing

Otherwise,

for all the

illegal. Josoul tə

ily and

the Jan Cheung

Käsnad papers sozial, eperation. be held responsib)

August 20, 1967

TELEGRAM SECTION

Room 124 K.C.S.

Communications Department

F.E.D.

*Please send copies of the following telegrai

YTC/1

13/8 (29

Copy/ies of the following telegram has/have been sent

(* delete as applicable)

TO:

1134 from Peking (24/4)

Hong Kong Situation Dist

(Signed)

(Department).

(Date).....

Action taken in Communications Department:

(Initials)...........

(Date).....

71/8

AFTER ACTION THIS FORM SHOULD BE SENT TO

THE APPROPRIATE ARCHIVES DIVISION FOR RETENTION

156397 500 Pads 2/66-MeC & Co Ltd-K.16430 (3609)

En Clair

IMMEDIATE PEKING TO

FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno 1124

21 August 1967

RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES No.31

TOP 2 AUG 1967

FD13/8

UNCLASSIFIED

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 1124 or 21 August, Repeated for information to Hong Kong, Washington and POLAD Singapore.

My telegram No. 1116.

This

was rejectedt

fee

Following is text of Note.

-/28

Begins:-

фа

एक

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China asks the office of the British Chargé d'Affaires immediately to transmit the following to the British Government.

The British authorities in Hong Kong have carried out a series of frantic political persecutions against the patriotic Chinese Press and journalists in Hong Kong. This has now developed to an extremely grave extent.

During the past two months and more, the British authorities have, by means of illegal kidnapping, unwarrantedly arrested Hseuh Ping, Chen Feng-ying, Chen Teh-mu and Lo Yu-ho, correspondents of the Hong Kong branch of the Hsinhua News Agency, Liu Chu-ping and Huang Yi-li, reporters of Wen Wei Pao, Tan Szu-chun, Lo Hsiang-jung and Wang Ning, reporters of Ta Kung Pao, Liang Li-yi and Kuang Pao-wen, reporters of the new Evening Post, Chen Tzu-feng, reporter of the Hong Kong Commercial Daily, Wu Tsai-oneng, reporter of the Ching Po Dally, and Hsu Yun-cheng, correspondent of the Economic Reporter. In a further arbitrary move on 9 August, the British authorities illegally arrested Hu Ti-chou, Director of the Hong Kong Evening News, Pan Huai-wel, Director, and Chen Yen-chuan, publisher of the Tin Fung Daily News, Li Shao-hsiung, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Nan Cheung Printing Co. Ltd., and publisher of the Hong Kong Commercial Daily and Chai Nuan-hui, kanager of the company. On 17 August, the British authorities even went so far as to brazenly order the Hong Kong Evening News, the Tin Fung Daily News and the Afternoon News to cease publication and initiated illegal lawsuits against Ta Kung Pao, the Ching Po Daily and the Nam Cheung Printing Co. Ltd. and the Hong Kong Press Enterprise Ltd.

On that undertook the printing of patriotic Chinese newspapers. August 19, the British authorities again dispatched armed police and special agents to assault the offices of the Hong Kong Evening News, the Tin Fung Daily News and the Afternoon News and illegally arrested 34 staff members of these papers.

The towering crimes committed by the British authorities in sanguinarily suppressing the patriotic Chinese in Hong Kong and Kowloon have aroused indignation among the entire Chinese people. It is entirely just for the patriotic Chinese Press and journalista in Hong Kong and Kowloon to report truthfully and expose the se Fascist atrocities, as it is their sacred duty to do so.

ра

/British

The

Peking telegram No. 1124 to Foreign Office

British authorities in Hong Kong bitterly hate and mortally dread them, and have now concocted various trumped-up charges to carry out all kinds of brutal political persecution against them in an attempt to suppress the patriotic opinion and muffle the voice of justice and truth. This can only serve to thoroughly reveal before the people of the world the British Government's utterly hideous and ferocious features as Fascist imperialism.

The Chinese Government hereby once again lodges the most urgent and the strongest protest with the British Government and solemnly states that the British Government and the British authorities in Hong Kong must, within 48 hours, cancel the ban on the Hong Kong Evening News, the Tin Fung Daily News and the Afternoon News, declare the above-mentioned 19 patriotic Chinese journalists and 34 staff members innocent and set them free, call off the illegal lawsuits against Ta Kung Pao, the Ching Pe Daily and the Nam Cheung Printing Co. Ltd. and the Hong Kong Press Enterprise Ltd., and make it possible for all the above-mentioned papers and printing companies to resume their normal operation. Otherwise, the British Government must be held responsible for all the consequences arising therefrom.

Mr. Hopson

Sent 06052 21 August

Recd 08192 21 August

FO/CO/WH DISTRIBUTION

F.E.D.

NNNNN

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

TELEGRAM SECTION

Room 124 K.C.S.

Communications Department

FED

Please send copies of the following telegram"

* Copy/ies of the following telegram has/have been sent

(* delete as applicable)

YTC/1

FDB/

13/8 (8)

128

No 1116 for Peking

th Aug 67

TO:

Rong Kong Sitiation (and China's attitude) Art.

(Initials)......

(Signed)

(Department)..

(Date)....

Action taken in Communications Department:

(Date).......

3/8/67

AFTER ACTION THIS FORM SHOULD BE SENT TO

THE APPRopriate ARCHIVES DIVISION FOR RETENTION

156397 500 Pads 2/66-McC & Co Ltd-K.16430 (3609)

En Clair

Now see repmu

of interviews between ihr de la Thore RECEIVLU .. ? She Piny F(3/3 (5411)

IMEDIATE FEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

¡ARCHIVES No.31

No.31!

21 AUG 1967

22/2

FD1318

ho 1116

UNCLASSIFIED

20 August, 1967

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 1116 of 20 August.

Repeated for information to:

Hong Kong Washington.

POLAD Singapore

I was summoned to Foreign Ministry this evening at 1030 p.m. On arrival we found a crowd at the gates and were diverted to the International Club, where we were received by Mr. Hsueh, Deputy

Head of Western Europe.

2. He read a Note in the usual form requesting me to forward it to Her Majesty's Goverment. The Note referred to the arrest of 19 journalists over the last two months, to the suspension of publication of three Hong Kong newspapers, the law suits against Hong Kong Press owners and editors, and the police action against the 3 banned papers in the course of which 34 further arrests were made. It made a strong protest against these ctions and demanded that the British authorities within 48 hours should:

(a) cancel the ban on the 3 newspapers,

(b) declare all those arrested innocent and set them free, and

(c) call off the law-suits against the Hong Kong papers. Otherwise Her Majesty's Government would be held responsible for all

consequences.

430

As language was even more high flown than usual I refused to accept Note and rejected protest.

4. Note will certainly be published.

Mr. Hopson

Sent 1620Z 20 August

Recd 17122 20 August

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ADVANCE COFIES SENT.

F.E.D.

uuuuu

Вати

Copy Sent to Mr. Barnes

Cypher/Cat A

CONFIDENTIAL

KATMANDU TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Télno 164 17 August, 1967

CONFIDENTIAL

M. Hall

RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES No. 31

TOP: AUR:1957 Y

| FD 1318

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No.164 of 17 August, Foreign Office please pass Hong Kong as my telegram No.5, Repeated for information to HQ Brigade of Gurkhas, Seremban (F.O. please pass).

Nepalese Press visitor to Hong Kong. Right Honourable Manindra Raj Shrestha, member of State Council of Nepal and editor of Katmandu Daily paper Motherland; recently returned from official visit to United Kingdom arrives Hong Kong 18 August 1967 for four days. He will be staying either at Capitol Hotel, Nathan Road or Imperial Hotel. Shrestha is past President of Katmandu Rotary and will be attending Rotary meetings in Hong Kong and Bangkok. He would like to visit Gurkha troops in Hong Kong but would understand if they are busy. A call at Headquarters might suffice. Please pass above to military authorities in the context of undesirability of excessive publicity about Gurkhas. Your Public Relations Department might care to brief Shrestha on Hong Kong affairs. He is well disposed but of independent opinion.

Mr. Kellas

Sent 0900Z/17 August Recd 11352/17 August

[Repeated as requested. Sent to D.CO.].

DEPARTIENTAL DISTRIBUTION

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CONFIDENT TAL

(1677/67)

FD13/

RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES No.31

1 O AUG 1967

FDB/8

Office of the British

Chargé d'Affaires,

Peking.

29 July, 1967.

Dear Department,

You may have noticed in NCNA in English, Item No. 072507 of 26 July, that Rose Smith, the British "journalist" working in Peking says she has written to the Prime Minister about the treatment of Chinese journalists in Hong Kong. We enclose a photostat copy of a letter which arrived at this office by ordinary post. We have not acknowledged it and we do not propose to, unless you instruct us otherwise.

yours ever,

пр.а.

Far Eastern Department

Foreign Office,

LONDON S.W.1

CHANGERY

To. Prize Minister Harold Wilson

1.K. Government,

Cffice of the British

Charge d'affaires

Teking

Hainbus

26, Kuo Hui Chich Peking

20, July 1967

Sir,

The arrests, searchings, threats and perseou- tion of journalists engaged in legitimate duties in Hongkong is a matter of grave concern to all who be- lieve in the freedom of the press.

As a British citizen and a working journalist I emphatically protest against these happenings and voice my support of the demand already made by many thousands that the arrested journalists be immediately released, apologies be sade to them, and that they be compensated for all losses, including cameras, and that you take action to ensure that there recurrence of such happenings,

During the course of many years of active jour- nalisz I have covered many assignments under war con- titions both at home and abroad, including fascist terrorism, zining, rail and natural disasters, strikes and demonstrations, Jever in all my experience Lave I encountered such unwarrantable and brutal interference with journalists carrying out their legitimate duties.

experience

Svents now taking pla。e in Hongkong under your laisdiction are a threat to the liberty of the people, and to working journalists everywhere.

Yours truly,

(signed) Rose Smith.

MR. HOHLER

CONFIDENTIAL

N.C.N.A. and Reuters

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

71 0 AUG 1967

FD13/8

Problem

The Chinese have indicated that they would agree to

consular access to Mr. Grey if we allowed visits by N.C.N.A.

Fe13 18 representatives in Hong Kong to N.C.N.A. personnel now being fu318

held in custody there. (Peking telegram No. 975.)

Flag A

Recommendation

I recommend that we should agree to this arrangement.

A draft telegram, in which the Commonwealth Office concur,

is attached.

Argument

3. In the Peking telegram under reference the Chinese

indicated that they would allow access to Mr. Grey in exchange

for visits by N.C.N.A. representatives to the three N.C.N.A.

personnel who were then in custody, i.e. one man who has been

sentenced to two years' imprisonment and two women who are on

remand en charged of unlawful assembly and come up for trial

tomorrow, 1 August. (Under the normal rules in Hong Kong

private visits by relatives are permitted for sentenced

prisoners. Visits to those on remand are at the discretion

of the authorities.) Since the Chinese approach another

N.C.N.A. man has been arrested in Hong Kong and charged with

unlawful incitement. He is due for trial in mid-August.

is likely that the Chinese will also ask for access to him

CONFIDENTIAL

/a8

CONFIDENTIAL

as well as the other three. All four persons are of Chinese

race and residents of Hong Kong. They are not British

subjects, nor do they apparently hold passports of the

the

People's Republic of China. In the eyes of/Hong Kong

Government therefore they are not Chinese officials nor

could they be regarded as enjoying any form of immunity from

Hong Kong law

FD1318 4.

The Officer Administering the Government in Hong Kong

Flag B (1) has agreed (Hong Kong telegram No. 1142) to allow one visit

to each of the four persons in return for consular access to

Mr. Grey in Peking. Mr. Hopson has also agreed.

Presumably

any further visits after the first would be on the same basis.

The danger of accepting the arrangement is that by equating

Mr. Grey with four members of N.C.N.A. we may be obliged to

agree to access to any additional N.C.N.A. personnel arrested

in Hong Kong. Moreover, the Chinese might be encouraged to

hold other British citizens in China in retaliation for

arrests in Hong Kong if they think we are prepared to make

a bargain with them over Mr. Grey. On the other hand we are

under an obligation to secure consular access as soon as

possible and we should be very vulnerable before Parliamentary

and public opinion if we missed this opportunity to secure it.

It is also unlikely that the Chinese would retaliate against

other British subjects in China e.g. businessmen, technicians,

unless we acted against similar categories of Chinese elsewhere.

On balance therefore I think we should accept the arrangement.

CONFIDENTIAL

John Denson

(J. B. Denson) 31 July, 1967

I certainly

CONFIDENTIAL

Permanent Under-Secretary

I certainly think that we ought to accept this arrangement.

We have a strong interest in establishing with the Chinese the

principle of access to arrested persons. Nor would any purpose

be served by attempting to equate Mr. Grey with only one member

of the N.C.N.A. It might indeed result in the Chinese arresting

three other British subjects so as to make the score equal.

(H. A. F. Hohler) 31st July, 1967

І адги

I lodgen.

CI sent

the off

time seems

हु

Now see frother Telegrame fr Pekny Hong Kampy

飞

The Grence)

Пи

LTR.R.-8.6)

Mus

до

CONFIDENTIAL

TOP

CYPHER/ "A" A

IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno 1022

7 August 1967

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

- 7 AUG 1967

FDIBA

120

2-3

CONFIDENTIAL

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No.1022 of 7 August. Repeated for information to Hong Kong.

NCNA.

Hong Kong telegram No.1173 to Commonwealth Office:

It would help me if Hong Kong could inform NCNA Fan Hong Kong as soon as possible along the lines of paragraph 2 of

your telegram No. 684 as I had perhaps wrongly assumed had already been done. There is still no reaction from Chinese here and if we are to gain access to Grey soon we must stimulate them. Hong Kong have more interest in pushing this than the Chinese in Peking who are in any case much preoccupied by internal events.

NCNA

Mr. Hopson

Sent 0300z 7 August Recd. 0620Z / August

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C.O.

F.E.D.

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ADVANCE COPIES SENT

See fuitker tel., from the

p.c

VVVVV

CONFIDENTIAL

ク

CONFIDENT IAL

INWARD TELEGRAM

TO THE COMHOMIRALTH OFFIC

(The Secretary of State)

FROM HONG KONG (0.A.G.)

RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES No.31

- 8 AUG 1967

1318

Cypher

D. 6 August 1967 R. 6

02072

IMMEDIATE

CONFIDENTIAL

No.1173

Addressed to Commonwealth Office

Repeated

Peking No.489

وه

2.3

Peking telegram No.1015 to Foreign Office.

N.C.N.A.

There has been no approach to us by N.C.N.A. yet, and we have said nothing to them. We interpreted paragraph 2 of Foreign Office telegram No.68 to Peking as meaning that we should take no action until Hopson reported that he had been granted, or assured of, access to Grey. Was this not your

(Passed to Resident Clerk)

intention?

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RECEIVED IN ¦ARCHIVES No.31

IMMEDIATE

PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

- 7 AUG 1967

Telno. 1015 5 August, 1967

CONFIDENTIAL

FD13/8

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 1015 of 5 August. Repeated for information to: Hong Kong

Your telegram No. 684.

Versage was passed to News Department on 2 August, There has been no reply so far.

2. Grateful to know whether there has been any reaction from NCNA Hong Kong.

Mr. Hopson

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Sent 0450Z 5 August Recd. 06582 5 August

Hike have replied

ра

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

======

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Telno 1014

5 August 1967

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

- 7 AUG 1967

FD1318

Addressed to Hong kong telegram no. 672 of 5 August. Repeated for information to Foreign Office.

Your telegram No. 434 to me. [N.C.N.A. Correspondents]

Grateful for news of person concerned.

Mr. Hopson

Sent 04102/5 August

Recd 0827Z/5 August

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FD1318

CONFIDENTIAL

CYPHER/CAT.A.

IMMEDIATE

FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING

TELNO. 684

1 AUGUST, 1967.

CONFIDENTIAL

FC 13/8

TOP COPY

(F.E.D.)

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NO 684 OF 1 AUGUST AND TO HONG KONG, PEKING TELEGRAM NO 981 AND HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO 1142 TO COMM- ONWEALTH OFFICE : REUTERS AND N.C.N.A.

WE AGREE THAT YOU SHOULD INFORM THE CHINESE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS THAT A VISIT WILL BE ALLOWED TO THE THREE N.C.N.A. PERSONNEL MENTIONED AS SOON AS CONSULAR ACCESS IS GRANTED TO GREY, IF THE CHINESE ASK FOR A VISIT TO THE FOURTH N.C.N.A. EMPLOYEE RECENTLY ARRESTED, YOU MAY AGREE.

2. HONG KONG PLEASE INFORM THE N.C.N.A. THAT WE ARE PREPARED TO ALLOW SPECIAL VISITS TO THOSE IN CUSTODY AS SOON AS CONSULAR

ACCESS IS GRANTED TO GREY.

SOSFA

SENT 1100Z 1 AUGUST

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CONFIDENTIAL

ра

palad

1/8

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Registry No. 1378

DEPARTMENT

F.E.D.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Tgp Secret secret

Confidential

Rececjesed Unclassified

PRIORITY MARKINGS

(Date).

Immediate

در متن

Refine

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

Cypher

Draft Telegram to:-

PEKING

Nov

LOI LI

684

(Date) 1/8

And to:-

YONG

• Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should

Despatched

reach addressee(s)

CYPHER

"Security classification] CONFIDENTIAL

[Secu

[ Privacy marking

-if any

[Codeword-if any.....

Addressed to ..

PP...

telegram No.

]

Paking

684

Hong Kong

And to

repeated for information to

------➖➖➖OILIJO-LYDI' ■ '

HONG KONG JACo Saving to Immediate Repeat to:-

Saving to:-

Distribution:- Departmental

P.E.D. Consular

-יוי.

------rזוו

PPPP. DI

-- ..-----

------------

(date)

-----------TE

--JILJOI

ito

----

Peking telegram No. 981 and Hong Kong telegram

No. 1142 to Commonwealth Office : Reuters and

N.C.N.A.

We agree that you should inform the Chinese

Ministry of Foreign Affairs that a visit will be

allowed to the three N.C.N.A. personnel mentioned

xxaxided as soon as consular access is granted to

Grey. If the Chinese ask for a visit to the fourth

N.C.N.A. employee recently arrested, you may agree.

2. Hong Kong please inform the N.C.N.A. that we

are prepared to allow special visits to those in

custody as soon as consular access is granted to

J.I.R.D.

Grey.

Newa

C.0.:

D.T.D.

F.E. & P. Dept.

Mus

CONFIDENTIAL

118

PILIJLLI

CONFIDENTIAL

Cypher/Cat.A.

PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

IMMEDIATE

Telno. 988

1 August, 1967.

{ RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES No.31

- 1, AUG 1967

FD13/8

18.

CONFIDENTIAL

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 988 of 1 August. Repeated for information to Hong Kong (Immediate)

Hong Kong telegram No. 1142 to Commonwealth Office: N.C.N.A. and Reuters.

Please confirm whether you now wish me to inform Press Department of M.F.A. in accordance with paragraph 2 of telegram under reference.

Mr. Hopson

Sent 03402 1 August. Read.0655Z

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CONFIDENTIAL

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

ре

CONFIDENTIAL

INWARD TELEGRAM

TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFIC

(The Secretary of State)

FROM HONG KONG (0.A.0.)

(18

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

- 1 AUG 1967

FD13/8

Cypher

D. 31 July 1967

R. 31

11 242

CONFIDENTIAL

FLASH

No.1142

Addressed to Commonwealth Office

Repeated

Peking No.467

(S. of S. please pass)

Your telegram No.1569.

N.C.N.A. Journalists.

We now have one who has been sentenced and three on remand (the third remanded today until mid-August). I would agree to one visit to each of these by an N.C.N.A. representative in return for consular access to Grey.

2. I suggest that N.C.N.A. are told to apply to Colonial Secretary.

(Passed as requested)

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Rena

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Mr. J.A.B. Darlington Mr. B.E.P. MacTavish

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to):

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TO HONG KONG (O.A.G.)

R117

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

- 1 AUG 1967

FD13/8

Sent 31 July, 1967. 09562

FLASH

CONFIDENT LAL

No. 1569.

Addressed to 0.A.G. Hong Kong. Repeated for information to Peking.

Your telegrama Nos, 1136 and 1138.

Reuters and N.C.N.A. Journalists.

/F213/838

Would you agree to a special visit to third N.C.N.A. Journalist if Chinese ask for it?

To whom do you suggest we tell the Chinese to apply for special visite?

(Passed to D.S.A.0. for repetition to Peking)

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FROM HONG KONG (0.A.0.)

D. 30th July, 1967

R. 30th

02002

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31 - 1 AUG 1967

FD13/8

та

IMMEDIATE No. 1136

Addressed to Peking No. 460

Repeated for information to Commonwealth

Office (D.T.D.).

On the evening of 29th July, 5 "journalists" from the NCNA, Wen Wei Pao, Shang Pao, Ching Pao and Ta Kung Pao were observed by police inciting a crowd of students in Tung Tau resettlement area. On seeing the police, these journalists" made off in a car which the police later intercepted. They were all arrested and will be charged tomorrow morning (31st July), probably with forming part of an intimi- dating assembly.

2. The ( fifth omitted) NCMA person concerned is Luo Yu-Ho (5012/3768/0735) who has been in Hong Kong since 1950 and does not hold a CPR passport.

(Advance copies passed to Resident Clerk and

to FE Dept. F.0., Mr. Glover, News Dept C.0. and Private Office for Commonwealth

Secretary).

/Distribution:

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(IRD)

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RE.7163) (Rm. 51 31)

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CONFIDENTIAL

INWARD TELEGRAM

TO THE COMMONPALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)

FROM HONG KONG (0.A.G.)

FD13/8

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES Ne.31

27 JUL 1967

FD1318

Cypher

D. 26 July, 1967. R. 26

INMEDIATI

FIDENTU

NTIAL

No. 1114.

05052

Hr lebeg

р.а.

Addressed to Commonwealth Offic Repeated

Peking No.452 (please pass)

Ky telegram No. 438 to Peking.

N.G.N.A. Reporters.

N.C.N.A. were so informed. Their immediate reaction was to say that they were not talking about routine visiting; this was an official request. However they have since approached Commissioner.

Fuis 183

Heuch has already had one private visit. You may wish to consider trading a special visit against Consular access to Grey.

I agree with paragraph 2 of Peking telegram No.957.

(Encyphered text passed to L.T.C. for repetition

to Peking.)

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(I.P.G.D. F.0.0.0. (I.R.D.)

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FROM HONG KONG (0.A.G.)

14 2013/8

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

25 JUL 1967

FD13/8

Cypher

D. 24 July 1967 R. 24

091 22

عم

IMMEDIATE

CONFIDENTIAL

No.1100

Addressed to Peking No.438 (8. of S. please pass)

and Commonwealth Office.

My telegram No.1090 to Commonwealth office.

Hauah Ping and 2 N.C.N.A. reporters on remand.

N.C.N.A. have applied for permission to visit Hsueh and others. Situation is that Commissioner for Prisons may permit one visit a month to prisoners under sentence and two per week to those on remand. Situation will be explained to N.C.N.A. accordingly.

(Passed as requested)

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FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

(The Secretary of State)

TO HONG KONG (0.A.G.)

HWB 1/17

Sent 21st July, 1967. 2350Z

IMMEDIATE CONFIDENTIAL

No. 1505

R.112

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.3:

25 JUL 1967 !

FD13/8

F43/8 15

Addreased to 0.A.G. Hong Kong, Repeated for information to Peking.

Peking telegrams Nos. 920 and 921

F2 1 3/8 16

It might be helpful in securing Grey's release if

it were found possible to deport Hsieh, We are not sure if there would be any legal difficulties about this or whether you would see any political objections to the idea. It appears from your telegram No. 1040 that he is not a British subject.

2. Grateful for your early views.

(Passed DSAO for repetition Peking)

25/7

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1.G.D.

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KIORITY PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno. 931

CONFIDENTIAL

22 July 1967

FO(r)

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

24 JUL 1967

FD1318

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 1 of 22 July Repeated for information to Hong Kong (Priority)

Commonwealth Office telegram No. 1505′ to Hong Kong.

You no doubt realise that deportation of Hsieh would not by itself necessarily effect Grey's release. There are still two other N.C.N.A. reporters under arrest who have not yet been sentenced and there may be more later.

Kr. Hopson

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$8888

CONFIDENTIAL

Sent 09402/22 July 1967

Read 11272/22 July 1967

р.а.

19:vic

CONFIDENTIAL

INWARD TELEGRAM

TO THE COMMON KALTH OFFICE

(The Secretary of State)

FROM HONG KONG (0.4.G.)

Cypher

D. 22 July, 1967. R. 22

06252

X117

RECEIVED ARCHIVES Nu.Ji

24 JUL 1967

FD13 18

IMMEDIATE CONFIDENTIAL No. 1090.

Addressed to Commonwealth office. Repeated

"Feking No. 435. (Please pass)

Your telegram No. 1505.

13·

pa.

NCNA Reporter, Hsueh Ping.

even

It would be legally possible to remit sentence and to deport and we gave consideration to this before trial. Despite his pro-Communist attitude and NCNA employment it is, however, possible that he would refuse to go to China if the Chinese Government are willing to accept him. Having once released him we should be obliged, I think, to detain him pending deportation. If this happened Chinese would certainly accuse us having engineered his refusal.

Police inform us that, though he claims to be single, there is a woman who says she is his wife and that they have children. This may complicate issue.

3. If other NCNA reporters are also convicted (my telegram No. 1089) there might be some advantage in trying to get rid of the lot at the same time, but this would mean dealy till early August.

Passed as requested)

(Passed to Resident Clerk)

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(The Secretary of State)

FEON HONG KONG (0.A.G.}

Cypher

D. 22 July, 1967.

情 R. 22

06312

R117

(10)

24 JUL 1967

FD 13/8

PRIORITY

CONFIDENTIAL

No. 1089

Addressed to Peking No. 1:34. (Please pass). Repeated Commonwealth office (D.T.D.).

Your telegram No. 602 (not to Commonwealth office).

Apologies. Both NCNA correspondents appeared on 20 July and were remanded with other journalists until 1 August (see NCNA 072023).

(a) Chan Fung-Ying (7115/7685/5391) was born in

China, Tung Kwan and has had Hong Kong identity card since 1955;

(b) Chan Tak-Muk (7115/1795/4476) born China,

Fa Chow.

Identity card first issued 1954.

Both are female and single believed to have been locally employed and neither is known to be in possession of a CPG passport. Both have held press cards since May 1967 only. (a) previously was declared as a typist.

(Passed as requested)

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(I.R.D.)

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竹

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CONFIDENTIAL

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- Mr. Henn

Major Koe

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Mr. J.A.B. Darlington Mr. B.E.P. MacTavish

kr. M. Glover

Duty Officer

RM 117 (9

INWARD TELEGRAM

TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

(The Secretary of State)

FROM HONG KONG (0.A.G.)

ན་ ་

ARCHIVES 190.5) |

2. JUL 1967

1/PD 1318

2./vir

En clair

D. 20 July, 1967 R. 20

09452

No. 1078

Repeated

Addressed Peking, No. 430

Commonwealth Office

Navi

Office.

Ice." p.c

In view of efforts to misrepresent events here, you should know for the record that Hsueh Ping was found guilty on 19 July of "unlawful assembly" and "forming part of an intimidating assembly" and sentenced to two yeare imprisonment on each count, the sentences to run concurrently.

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H Rm.7163) Rm.5131)

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P.8. to Mr. Rodgers Mr. de la Mare Kr. Bolland

· Mr. Wilson

Hr. Denson Mr. Foggon

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Mr. Henn

· Major Koe

1.0.2

Mr. J.A.B. Darlington

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En Clair

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PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Tlno. 916 20 July, 1967

UNCLASSIFIED

TOP COPY

¡ RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES No.31

20 JUL 1967

FD13/8

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 916 of 20 July Repeated for information to: Hong Kong, Washington, Singapore

People's Daily of 20 July reports two year sentence on Hsieh P'ing, Hong Kong NONA reporter, which it describes 28 "a serious political provocation of the great Socialist Mother- land and something that 700 million Chinese people absolutely cannot tolerata" Article says that Hsieh Ping protested

in court and lodged four demands:

(a) That he be released immediately.

(b) Compensation and admission of guilt by Hong Kong

authorities.

(d) Punishment of thugs.

Report says that Hong Kong authorities are preparing to try other arrested reporters on 20 July.

Mr. Hopson

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0.0.

F.E.D.

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J. I.R.D.

S.B.A.D.

F.E.& P.D.

D.T.A

Sent 04452 20 July Rood. 0730Z 20 July

palakoly

En Clair

PRIORITY

PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

Telno. 902 17 July, 1967

UNCLASSIFIED

17 JUL 1967

FD13/8

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 902 of 17 July. Repeated for information to: Hong Kong, POLAD Singapore, Washington.

My telegram No. 888.

At about 1130 a crowd of demonstrators from NCNA and the major Peking newspapers collected outside this office and began shouting "British Charge come out".

I sent Blishen and Appleyard to the front gate where several protests were read out and handed to them. The police cordon was rather larger than last time and succeeded in keeping the crowd back. The protests concerned the reported arrest of two NCNA correspondents and "five other Chinese correspondente of patriotic papers" on 15 July. As usual the protest demanded apologies, compensation and a guarantee of the normal facilities for the NCNA, punishment of these responsible and assurances that similar incidents would not occur again.

3. The demonstrations were escalated to some extent compared with those on 13 July in that the demonstrators threw tomatoes and scored a few hits on Blishen and Appleyard,

One, | however, struck a revolutionary interpreter a resounding blow

on the hoad.

Mr. Hopson

Sent Reod.

05452 1 05452 17 July

08572 17 July

The Billed

Peking...

робчет In atoe by as prozent abour the

of wit I thinte

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.0.

F.E.D.

8. E.A.D.

Should melude it in

J.I.P.G.D. discussion

J. I.R.D.

Whe

ow her

welt The Chines

Nowe Dept. but not regulas

0.0. P.E. & P. Dept.

D.I.8. M.O.T.

9 ugin.

JB241

терезей работ

R.117

CONFIDENTIAL

INWARD TELEGRAM

TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

(The Secretary of State)

FROM HONG KONG (0.A.G.)

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

17 JUL 1967

FD1318

Cypher

D. 15 July 1967 R. 15

04402

News:

PRIORITY

CONFIDENTIAL

Bо.1040

Addressed to Commonwealth Office Repeated

* Paking No.413

(C.O. please pass)

р.а

My telegrams Nos.404 and 409 to Peking.

NCNA Reporter.

I must make it quite clear that police are satisfied that Hsieh played a part in the disturbances, and was identified as a member of the unruly crowds on several occasions. To judge by representations made by NCNA to Special Branch, NCNA themselves are ill-informed about the events leading to Hsieh's arrest and the extent of his activities. But it is because of these that he has been charged. He refused to plead so that a plea of not guilty has been entered on his behalf. His case will come up again on 19 July. I cannot of course say whether the court will find him guilty, but, if he is, he could well face up to a 2 year sentence.

2. I understand that Hsieh was born in Shanghai but has been in Hong Kong at least since 1951, when a Hong Kong identity card was issued to him. As far as we are aware, he does not hold any form of CPG documentation and is therefore to all intents and purposes a locally employed Hong Kong resident. His status as a reporter, if indeed he is a reporter for he was known to be a typist not so long ago, confers on him no inmunity to riot and provoke the authorities.

3. In the meantime, what about Gray seeking to leave China either via Rangoon (if still open) or Irkutsk? Despite the inconvenience of these longer routes, if he is blocked every way we shall know more clearly that he is personally being discriminated against.

(Passed as requested)

(Advance copies passed to Commonwealth Secretary,

Messrs. de la Mare, Wilson, Bolland and Denson

F/E Dept. Foreign office and Mr. Glover News Dept.)

/Distribution

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CONFIDENTIAL

INWARD TELEGRAM

TO THE COMMON TEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)

FROM HONG KONG (0.A.G.)

R 117.

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

14 JUL 1967

FD13/8

En clair

D. 13 July, 1967. R. 13

0805Z

No. 1021.

Addressed to Peking No. 409. Repeated

" Commonwealth offic

Your telegram No. 874.

N.C.N.A. Reporter,

pă

I trust that by now you will have seen my telegram 404 which was despatched from here at 1050 on 11 July.

2. Hsieh was charged in court yesterday with "unlawful assembly and forming an intimidating assembly". No plea was taken and he was remanded until this morning. Hsieh protested against his arrest and trial both of which he said were illegal.

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1.0.2.

Mr. J.A.B. Darlington Mr. B.E.P. MacTavish Mr. P. Sedgwick Duty Officer

Er. M. Glover

RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES No:31

En Clair

1967

PRIORITY

PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno. 888 13 July, 1967.

TOP COPED13/

UNCLASSIFIED

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 888 of 13 July. Repeated for information to Hong Kong, POLAD Singapore, Washington.

My telegram No. 883.

FD1/6 91

About 11 a.m. we received telephone call from Protocol Department announcing that N.C.N.A. employees were coming to the office to deliver a protest and that the M.F.A. considered that this action was righteous and "demanded" that I or my representative came out to receive the protest within 15 minutes.

I sent Whitney and Weston to the front gate where the protest was read out and handed to them. About 20 police kept the crowd back from the gates during the proceedings. Protest denounced the "kidnapping" and "illegal secret trial" of N.C.N.A. correspondent in Hong Kong and repeated usual demands for apologies, compensation and guarantee of facilities for normal reporting and safety of N.C.N.A. Hong Kong.

Demonstrators then dispersed.

Mr. Hopson Sent 05252 13 July.

Read.11152

13 July.

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收

En Clair

PRIORITY

PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno. 881 12 July, 1967

UNCLASSIFIED

See -k

TOP

IVED IN

ARVES No.31

3 JUL 1967

W/ F013/8

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 881 of 12 July, Repeated for information to: Hong Kong

Ky telegram No. 874.

Following is text of Protest as published in People's Daily and NCNA of 12 July.

Hauch Ping, correspondent of the Hong Kong branch of the Heinhua News Agency was on a normal reporting assignment in the vicinity of Wanchai Road, Hong Kong at 0140 hours today when he was unreasonably arrested by armed police of the British Hong Kong authorities. Although Hedeh Ping produced his reporters credentials the British Hong Kong police dragged him off in a car and drove to the Eastern District Police Station and detained him there Leaders of the Uhsinhua Hong Kong branch later repeatedly took up the matter with the British Hong Kong authorities.

At 0600 hours Liang Wei-lin, Director of the Hsinhua Hong Kong branch lodged a most urgent and strong protest with the officer administra- ting the Government, Michael Gass, and raised three demands but the British Hong Kong authorities continued to detain Hsueh Ping without any reason.

We fully support the solemn demands raised by Liang Wei-lin.

This is not the first time that the British Hong Kong authorities have brazenly provoked and persecuted personnel of the Hainhue Hong Kong branch, On June 25 Wang Lei, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, and Chen Kuo-jung and Chen Ming-chu, correspondents of the Hsinhua Hong Kong branch, encountered groundless obstruction and were forced to submit to an insulting search by armed police of the British Hong Kong authorities.

The British Hong Kong authorities have repeatedly and unreason- ably interfered with the normal activities of the personnel of the Chinese official news agency, threatened their safety and unwarrant- edly arrested one of them. This is another serious political pro- vocation against the Chinese people conducted by the British Govern- ment and the British authorities in Hong Kong.

The Chinese Government hereby lodges a strongest Protest.

The British Government must enjoin the British Hong Kong authorities immediately to release the arrested; publicly apologize to him and ensure freedom of activity and safety for personnel of the Hsinhua Hong Kong branch and ensure that there be no recurrence of similar incidente, otherwise, you shall be held responsible for all the grave consequences arising therefrom

Mr. Hopson

FO/CO/WH DISTRIBUTION

P.E. D.

Sent 0910Z 12 July

Reed. 12422 12 July

En Clair

IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno. 874

TOP GARECÈVED IN

ARCHIVES No.31

JUL 1967

12 July 1967

CLASSIFIED

FD13/8

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 874 of 12 July Repeated for information to Hong Kong (Immediate).

I was summoned last night at 11 p.m. to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where Mr. Hsueh, Deputy Director of West Europe, read an oral statement about the arrest in Hong Kong of Hsueh P'ing of NCNA.

2. He described this as a serious political provocation, and mentioned a previous occasion on 25 June when Deputy Head and other staff member of NCNA in Hong Kong had been stopped and searched. The Chinese Government lodged a strong protest and demanded that the British Government order the Hong Kong authorities to release the NCNA prisoner immediately, make an apology and guarantee the normal safety and freedom of NCNA members in Hong Kong.

3. I said I was unaware of the case, but that if Mr. Hsueh P'ing had been arrested he would presumably be charged with an offence. I rejected the protest but said I would report the matter to you.

Mr. Hopson

FO/CO/WH DISTRIBUTION

F.E.D.

Sent 00502/12 July 1967 Recd 0444Z/12 July 1967

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

Mr Bolland.

You

said that it

had been decided af the Under Secrday!

weeting on Tuanday

no reply

SSSSS

that

further

ackou

Yes.

P.A.

would be taken

abour they probert.

山

18./ri

INWARD TELEGRAM

TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

(The Secretary of State)

FROM HONG KONG (0.A.G.)

AMRIVED IN

の

ARCHIVES No.31

12 JUL 1967

En clair

D. 11 July, 1967.

0730Z

FD13/8

See

*MMEDIATE No. 1002.

Addressed to Peking No. 404. Repeated

"Commonwealth office (D.T.D.).

During the disturbances last night in Wanchal on

Hong Kong Island, an N.C.N.A. Journalist, Hsieh Ping (5641/1627), was arrested, detained and will probably be charged with unlawful assembly, Another member of the N.C.N.A, then appeared at the Eastern Division Police Station where Hsieh was being detained, protested strongly at this 'kidnapping' and demanded his immediate release on the grounds that he was an employee of the C.P.G. He finally left saying that he would report the matter immediately to Peking.

2. There is this morning a small item on the front pages of the main left wing newspapers which claim that Haich's 'kidnapping' is a serious political provocation.

(Advance copies passed to D.3.A.0. for Private

office for Commonwealth Secretary, Mr. Glover News Dept, C-O., and Mesare, de la Mare, Bolland, Wilson and Denson (F.E. Dept., F.o.)

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Kr. Wilson

= =

Treasury

Export Credits Guarantee Dept. Ministry of Defence Rm. 7365)

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{News Dept.)

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News Dept.

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M.0.2.

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Duty Officer