FCO 21/197 UK policy towards Hong Kong Riots,英國檔案,Archives,1960s





File No.

FD1/3

SEPARATE ANNEX

PART

TITLE:

DEPT.

"

FG

38. The grading of this jacket mat be the same as that of the highest produč Lonent confused in it. The appropriate upgrading vip mot be grund whew ENT

FOREIGN OFFICE

SECRET PERSONAL.

DEPT.

CLOSED.

FAR EASTERN

HONG KONG

85 425

POUTICAL AFFAIRS (INTERNAL) U.K. POLICY TOWARDS.

REFER TO

NAME

DON.

REFER TO

DATE DET

NAME

PA-

1975. 19/5

PA. Sow Tye

DEA PA.

Dens

PA.

EB

 

16

TAL

19/6.

12/6.

рать.

12%

30/6

Dan. P

Dhe

PA.

20

11/3. +4/8

10100

Dru. 19

PA Din

PA.

E

OPENED

15.5.67

SECURI N.B. T

hig est

14/9.

14/0

יו

DATE DEPT.

207 24/11

ໄພ

12

127 12

|-

211

CII --

ILI

P

H

25%

42.

PA. D12.

PA

LIL

■IMI ----

||-|- --

REFER TO

NAME

THILI''

DATE

----

- I-IIIIIL

D

PA, 76 ESS.

PA A JS.

17/<

D vitten redek, u

HILI'

IL.

וי יד

REGISTRY

י-קיי

-----

in No.

F.O. Buildina...

Downing Street,

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

FILE

CLOSED

FILE No.

FD1/3.

PART

A

י.יוי

. ויד

......

CLOSED

PIN

i

slip must

SECRET

PERSONAL

TO BE RETAINED AS TOP ENCLOSURE

Cabinet Documents

Reference

Folio

No.

5 144 x (68)i

Date

OPD (67) 20th hing

25-5-67

2.5.68

The above-listed Cabinet document(s), which was/were enclosed on this file, has/have been removed and destroyed.

For complete series of Cabinet documents see CAB (CABINET OFFICE) CLASSES

signed

Xanary

15/10197

Date

25.2

Mr. Denfor

pa.

29/2

(ARLIAV

29 FEB No358

FDI3

SECRETARY OF STAZE

STAR

has saan.

দি

22

2

:3

عنایی

(142)

FDI!!

295

The Commonwealth Secretary was unable to see

me today but I have just spoken to him on the telephone

(11.30 p.m.). He had of course seen Peking telegram

No. 133 and been concerned by it. He said that we

must await the Governor's response but at that stage

he would look into it personally and see whether there

had been a misunderstanding and, if so, how anything

similar could occur in future. He added that the

Governor was due here shortly in any case which would

give an opportunity to look at the whole situation

and the best future course. I put to him that there

seemed to be an advantage in my going to Hong Kong to

look into particularly the whole question of the

options open in terms of our mission in Peking and the

local situation. I said that apart from any

practical advantage in this it might be helpful to

morale in Peking where one of our problems was

reassuring them that we were very concerned with the

situation. I mentioned that we had had to make it

clear to Donald Hopson that we were also concerned

/with

- 2 -

with Anthony Grey's position in which there was a

good deal of public and parliamentary interest.

Mr. Thomson said that there was the difficult problem

of balancing three and three-quarter million people

in Hong Kong against the 60 in Peking and he

appreciated that there were difficult questions here.

2. We left it at that point.

The next stage is

a more thorough discussion in the light of the

Governor's response and meanwhile perhaps you would

consider, irrespective of the outcome of the

Governor's visit, whether I should go to Hong Kong

I

as soon as it can within reason be arranged.

understand, for example, that I could go on an R.A.F.

flight on 5 March. Although my visit would be

private to Hong Kong it woud be open to consideration

whether I might also call at Saigon in the light of the circumstances at the time and any views expressed

by Murray MacLehose.

۸۴

Anders Samme

William Rodgers

21 February, 1968

(Dictated by Mr. Rodgers over the telephone at

11.45 p.m. and not signed by him.)

Ed (1625)

¡

!

Reference.

FD1/3

31140

and

141

i

See Annex.

1

I

[

Ed (4206)

Reference...

FD1/3 (139 FD43

|

See ANNEX

Mr. Wilkinson

Private Secretary

SECRET

بھر وہی

ގ

RE

D W

ARC

12F..

T

FD1/3.

138

Flag

19/11

HONG KONG C

FR.)

обов

Mo Welem 2912

In his minute of 29 January, the Secretary of State

139 asked where matters stood with regard to our long-term

Flag B

W(133)

planning about Hong Kong.

pa.

2. The considered strategic paper which the Secretary of

State has in mind has been in the intentions of the Defence

Review Working Party for some time. At the meeting of the

Overseas Policy and Defence (Official) Committee on 29 January

when the future programme of work for the Defence Review Working

Party was discussed, it was decided that a paper on Hong Kong

covering "long-term policy: impact of withdrawal from Singapore

and Malaya: size of garrison and reinforcement plans" should

be ready by 30 April, the Departments responsible being the

Commonwealth Office with the Foreign Office and Ministry of

Defence. This timetable was to fit in with the decisions which

will be required before the White Paper on Future Defence Policy

which has been promised to Parliament and will have to be

produced in July.

3. We have just received the Commonwealth Office's preliminary

draft. It is the intention to have an inter-departmental

meeting at the end of this week at head of department level (Commonwealth Office, Foreign Office, Treasury, Ministry of Defence and Cabinet Office) for a first examination of the

/draft.

SECRET

SECRET

- 2

draft. Once we have had this discussion, it should be

easier to see those issues on which it would be best to

have Ministerial guidance here at this stage. We shall

certainly have in mind the Secretary of State's observation

in the first paragraph of his minute.

Copies to:

Mr. Samuel

Mr. Butler

James Murray)

5 February, 1968

Mitkuisa

5/2.

SECRET

Sir E. Feck

CONFIDENTIAL

PDY/3

Mr. Muthay PD1 / 2 WITH (28) See Items 14, 15, 16 +19 Jon Denson

At the meeting of the Oversea Policy and Defence

(official) Committee on 29 January, the future programme of

work for the Defence Review Working Party was discussed. The

Committee approved, subject to endorsement by OPD probably

later this week, the programme which I attach as Annex A to

this minute.

mali

The items listed flow naturally from the recent decisions

on defence cuts. Decisions on most of them will be required

before the White Paper on Future Defence Policy, including

the shape and structure of the Armed Forces, can be produced.

This White Paper, which has been promised to Parliament, will

have to be produced in July. I attach at Annex B a provisional

timetable.

(R.A. Sykes)

30 January, 1968

Coples to:

Private Secretary Mr. O'Reill

Mr. Morland

Hr. Arbuthnott

Mr. Samuel

Mr. Baker

Sir D. Allen

Lord Hood

Sir C. O'Neill Sir C. Crowe

Sir D. Greenhill

Sir R. Jackling Sir R. Beaumont

Mr. Wilkinson

Kr. Beith

Nr. Brenchley

Head of Arabian Dept.

Head of A.E. & D. Dept.

Head of Central Dept.

Head of Defence Supply Dept.

Head of Eastern Dept.

Head of E.E.I.Dept.

Head of Far Eastern Dept.

Head of Planning Staff

Head of N.E.A. Dept.

Head of S.E.A. Dept.

Head of W.C.A. Dept.

Sir J. Henniker-Kajor Kr. Garvey

Head of Western Dept.

Head of W.0.0. Dept.

Kr. Hancock

CONFIDENTIAL

1

[

CONFIDENTIAL

ANNEX A

Subject

1.

Offset

2.

Kuwait

3.

Brunei

4.

Combat

Aircraft

5. Aircraf

Carriers

6. A.W.R.E.

7.

Overseas Works

Proxraume

8. Consequences of

F.111

Cancellation

A. To be decided at an early date

Problem for Decision

Instructions for our

negotiator

Action necessary to terminate or amend the

(See also

agreement. No. 14).

Action to terminate Anglo/ Brunei Agreement,

Early decision required on keeping open option to develop advanced combat aircraft pending decision on No. 24.

Ark Royal/Eagle refits.

Terms of reference for enquiry into A.W.R.E.

Far East and Persian Gulf.

Cancellation payments, offset targets and orders, U.S. credita, etc.

Department Responsible

and Action

Foreign Office with Treasury and Board of Trade in hand - ? very early to OPD.

Foreign Office with

Ministry of Defence,

leading to early paper to OPD.

Commonwealth Office

with Ministry of Defence: remit from OPD(67) 31st Meeting to bring back for decision early in 1968.

Ministry of Defence, with Ministry of Technology and Treasury. At an early date.

Ministry of Defence,

initially bilaterally with

Treasury, during February.

Ministerial Committee on Nuclear Folicy.

Ministry of Defence discussing with Treasury and Kinistry of Public Building and Works.

Foreign Office and Common- wealth office to be con- sulted.

Ministry of Defence and Hinistry of Technology. As soon as possible.

D

CONFIDENTIAL

/B.

CONFIDENTIAL

2

Subject

9. NATO

10. Force

Structure Exercise

11. Malta

B. To be decided in relation to the

Defence White Paper in July

Problem for Decision

Future policy towards NATO including terms of force declarations and assignments.

Including the definition of a "general capability, and the consequences of the F.111 study. (See cover note).

Future requirements.

Department Responsible and Action

Foreign Office, with Common- wealth office and Ministry of Defence. Paper to OPD, perhaps by 30 April.

Ministry of Defence.

For

discussion in Working Party by 30 April.

12.

Cyprus and

CENTO

13. Libya

Details of reduction of aircraft in Cyprus.

Assumptions on future garrison and treaty.

(1) Assumptions about

timing of run-down.

14. Persian Gulf

(ii)

(11)

Negotiations for

abrogation or

amenduent of

treaties.

(111) Future of support for local forces.

Commonwealth office, with Foreign Office and Kinistry of Defence. Paper to OPD, perhaps by 30 April.

Foreign Office, departmental action with Commonwealth Office and Ministry of Defence, by 30 April.

Foreign Office with Ministry of Defence. For discussion in the Working Party by 31 March.

(1)

Foreign Office with Ministry of Defence for discussion in Working Party before mid-March.

(11) Foreign Office.

For submission to Minis- ters as soon as possible.

(111) As (11).

15. Far East

(a) Political

(1) proposed 5-power

(1)

conference.

(ii) Anglo/Malaysian

treaty.

(111) SEATO.

/(111)

CONFIDENTIAL

Commonwealth Office with Foreign Office and Ministry of

Defence. For eventual submission to Ministere, probably end April or early May.

(11) Commonwealth Office,

with Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence, Dependent on (1).

CONFIDENTIAL

3

Subject

15. Far East

(contd.)

Problem for Decision

(b) Defence. Plans for withdrawal from

Singapore and Malaysia.

16. Hong Kong

17. Minor

Denendencies

18. Air Routes

|

19. Gurkhas

Long-term policy: impact of withdrawal from Singapore and Kalaysia: size of garrison and reinforcement plans.

Implications for size and structure of forces of political future of minor dependencies such as Fiji, British Honduras, Falkland Islands, Caribbean, etc.

Future requirements, staging posts, overflying rights, etc.

Timing of future decisions.

20. Beira Patrol Future of commitment.

21.

Protection of British subiecta

Future use of British forces to protect British subjects abroad.

Department Responsible and Action

(iii) Foreign office with Commonwealth Office and Ministry of Defence. Before SEATO Council meeting in early April.

Ministry of Defence with Commonwealth Office. To Ministers not later than 30 April.

Commonwealth Office with Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence, By 30 April.

Commonwealth Office with Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence. Initially for early discussion in Working Party.

Kinistry of Defence, with Foreign Office and Common- wealth office. For #18- cussion in Working Party by 30 April.

Ministry of Defence with Foreign Office. To OPD if necessary by 30 April.

Foreign Office, with Commonwealth Office and Ministry of Defence. For early discussion in Working Farty.

Commonwealth Office and Foreign Office, with Ministry of Defence, OPD by 31st Karch.

To

/ANNEX B

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

ANNEX B

Time Table

House of Commons debate.

1

Publication of White Paper.

White Paper to printers.

Cabinet discussion of White Paper.

Paper circulated to Cabinet.

OPD discussions.

OPDO discussions.

Paper circulated to OPDO.

Late July (say on Konday 22nd).

Monday, 8 July.

Monday, 1 July,

Thursday, 27 June.

Monday, 24 June.

14 and 21 June.

During period 4

Wednesday, 29 May.

10 June.

NOTE:

This timetable is based on the planned timetable for the 1967 Defence Studies, adjusted to allow for the Spring Bank Roliday (31 May to 3 June). Actual timetable in 1967 was a week later, owing to the Middle East crisis.

CONFIDENTIAL

From: C.J. Howells, DS22

Please address any reply to MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(

and

DS22

Your reference:

DS22/9B

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE Main Building, Whitehall, LONDON S.W.I

Telephone: WHitehall 7022, ext. 6732

6th February 1868

12

137

The Howelle listed

we

There they

are not very happy about the

Would lie to dicun

Dean Dawid paper and

it before pulling delected silicisin

on pupes Hong Kong : Draft Repoft

7:00

Thank you for suggesting that I might come to the meeting you will be holding with Defence Department and the Planners later this week to discuss the draft en- closed with Carter's letter of 30th January to Murray. If you do not think it would make the meeting too unwieldy it would be most helpful if a military member of the Defence Policy Staff could come along with me.

Meanwhile we shall be considering the parts of the paper which concern us, but not formulating our views until we know what the scale and approach of the Foreign Office comments are likely to be.

Ducured with Mr Carta (co)

تمام

on 15 September. See this Youmo

рарсы

1

şa ¿c 23/0

David Wilson Esq.,

Far Eastern Department, Foreign Office,

S.W.1.

w

RECEIVED IN

Chuis; ARCHIVES No.31

- 8 FEB 1968

FD1/3

Ed (4206)

·

!

Reference....

10113.

See Annex

136

(4/3)

RECS ¡ARL

> IN

No 31

Few 368

FDI 3

p.w.

BRITISH EMBASSY,

TOKYO

30 January, 1968

CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL

Jear later,

Fub.

M: James Manny Me sht

famu

M: Donato Maitland.

бы

2

135

The Secretary of State and Hong Kong

128

I am sorry to have worried you about Mr. Pao and his interpretation of a remark, supposedly made by the Secretary of State to him in my house. I had already suggested the explanation, which you kindly gave me in your telegram No. 178 of 19 January, but it was helpful to have it in attributable form. In the event, the Pao resident here decided to drop the matter and told his brother in Hong Kong as much.

2.

Unfortunately they had between them conveyed the story to Mr. J.K. Swire of Butterfield and Swire and he had already left for Hong Kong, determined to put the matter to the Governor on the racecourse (old world touch!) the next day. Butterfield and

Swire's helpful manager here succeeded in dissuading Swire by telephone and the brothers Pao have now taken the face-saving line that Swire's deafness was basically at fault

3. I was therefore able to tell you that this rumour had been scotched (my telegram No. 106 of 24 January).

ever

p.a.

'i

..Z.W

7:ü

ohn

(John Pilcher)

P.A. Wilkinson, Esq., C.M.G., D.E.O., 0.B.E.,

FOREIGN OFFICE. 8.W.1.

CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL

Ed (4206)

Reference..

西

FD1/3 (130

See Annex.

En Clair

TOKYO TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno 106 24 January 1968

UNCLASSIFIED

Your telegram No. 178.

FG Divn. (133

Copy No....

3

RECEIVED IN ¡ARCHIVES No 31 2. JAN 1968

FD13

FD 1/3/128

Following for Wilkinson from Ambassador,

Genuine misunderstanding has I hope now been clarified.

Sir J. Pilcher

PRISEC (F.0.)

Feb.

Good.

It wa

Cochon Insumen.

a

pe.

2

13

E4 (4206)

!

Reference..

FD1/3 (129 FD1/3

See Annex.

132

L

LAST

REF.

127

FD1/3

KEXI

REF.

CYPHER/CAT A

CONFIDENTIAL

128

fema

COPY NO..3

FLASH FOREIGN OFFICE TO TOKYO

TELNO 178

CONFIDENTIAL

19 JANUARY, 1968 (F)

YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 91: HONG KONG.

FOLLOWING FROM WILKINSON,

(127

SECRETARY OF STATE IS NOW IN BONN, WE WILL SHOW HIM THE TELEGRAM ON RETURN.

2. MR. PAO CLEARLY GOT THE WRONG END OF THE STICK. WHAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE MAY HAVE MEANT WAS THAT THE VIOLENT PHASE OF THE COMMUNIST CAMPAIGN IN HONG KONG WAS NOW QUOTE FINISHED UNQUOTE. PLEASE EXPLAIN THIS TO MR. PAO AND ADD THAT THE PRIME MINISTER STATED CATEGORICALLY IN PARLIAMENT ON 18 JANUARY THAT THERE WAS QUOTE NO QUESTION OF REDUCING THE STRENGTH OR EFFECT- IVENESS OF THE HONG KONG GARRISON UNQUOTE WHILE, ON 17 JANUARY, THE COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY SAID THAT QUOTE H.M.G. REMAINED UNCHANGED IN THEIR DETERMINATION TO MAINTAIN THEIR AUTHORITY IN THE COLONY AND TO DISCHARGE THEIR FULL RESPONSIBILITIES TOWARDS HONG KONG AND ITS PEOPLE UNQUOTE.

SOSFA

PRISEC (F.0.)

CONFIDENTIAL

Registry No.

DEPARTMENT

FD1/3

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION PRIORITY MARKINGS

Top Secret

Secret

Confidential

Restricted Unclassed.

Flash

Timmediate

Priority Robur

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

reach addressco(s).

Dispatched

atched

129

EXPHER

---

LIL

Xxx

Private

A

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

1783/1911

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

En Clair Code Cypher

Draft Telegram to:-

No.

TOKYO

[Securi

ation]

Security classification] if any

[ Privacy marking ]

-if any

[Codeword-if any]

Addressed to

telegram No.

178

And to

CONFIDENTIAL

Rakkeg (Tokyo

ve-‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒---------......dordiriideid=IMA

(date)

(Dale) 12 repeated for information to

And to:-

Repeat to:-

Saving to:-

John Denson

19/1

Distribution:-

PRISEC

Copies to:-

Ffice

Saving to....

Your telegram No. 91 : Hong Kong

Following from Wilkinson.

Secretary of State is now in Bonn. We will

show him the telegram on return.

2. Mr. Pao clearly got the wrong end of the stick.

What the Secretary of State may have meant was that

the violent phase of the comunist campaign in Hong

Kong was now "finished". Please explain this to

Kr. Pao and add that the Prime Minister stated

categorically in Parliament on 18 January that there

was "no question of reducing the strength or

effectiveness of the Hong Kong garrison" while,

on 17 January, the Commonwealth Secretary said that

"H.M.G. remained unchanged in their determination to

maintain their authority in the Colony and to

discharge their full responsibilities towards Hong

Kong and its people".

EXAMINED AT /.7.30////

↑ SIGNATURE

UPO 199

Cypher/Cat A

CONFIDENTIAL

FE Dim(127)

COPY NO: 3

IMMEDIATE TOKYO TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno 91

CONFIDENTIAL

19 January, 1968

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No,31

19 JAN 1968

FDI /3

Following urgent for Private Secretary from Ambassador.

Mr. C. L. Pao, & Hong Kong ship-owner, has told others that at my reception for the Secretary of State on 8 January, on hearing he was from Hong Kong the Secretary of State commented "finished".

2. This seems entirely contrary to the Secretary of State's attitude towards Hong Kong as evinced in the talks. I should like to be able to deny categorically that Mr. Pao can have understood the Secretary of State correctly. Perhaps a personal message to Mr. Pao, who is very sensitive and talkative, might be the most effective way. If I could be authorized to convey this and know in what terms today I should be grateful as Mr. Pao is likely to cause it to be taken up with the Governor of Hong Kong within 48 hours.

3. I would then inform the Governor that I had so written to Kr. Pao.

Sir J.Pilcher

PRISEC (F.0.)

88888

LARI

MEXT

REF.

128

Reply seur

p.a.

CONFIDENTIAL

10

1

Ed (4206)

+

Reference...

FD1/3

121

то

126

See Annex.

[

ORIGINAL Copy on

F21/14/225.

Mr. Wilkinson

7

SECRET

RECEIVED IN ¡ARL: #VES No.31

20 DEC 1967

FD1/3

British Mission in Peking

and Policy towards Hong Kong

रे

Mr The

bu. (120

But I far. 68.

See Fe1/14/225

де

نا.

Flag A

Problem

The Secretary of State commented on a submission of

6 December about efforts to extract members of our Mission

in Peking that the situation was "really most unsatisfactory".

Since then there has been some improvement, in that the

Blishen family have been allowed to leave. However, the

position remains that the Chinese are linking exit visas for

the British Mission in Feking with our conduct in Hong Kong.

The problem is therefore to decide what more we can do to get

our people out of Peking within the limits imposed by the

necessity of maintaining our authority in Hong Kong.

Recommendation

2.

I recommend that:

(a) for the time being the present policy of firm

but unprovocative action in Hong Kong continues to hold out the best hope of ameliorating conditions

for the Mission in Peking; but

(b) if no more visas are granted within a month or so,

we should consider giving publicity to the plight

of the Kission.

(c) Keantime we should continue to try to find ways of

making the Chinese anxious to withdraw some of

their personnel in London.

ןז ױ

+

/Background

SECRET

Background and Argument

Flag B

3.

Flag C

On 27 November the Chinese gave a clear indication that

they intended to issue exit visas for some of the members of

our Mission in Peking. On 2 December however this half promise

was withdrawn on the grounds that action in Hong Kong against

the communist newspapers and the closure of a communist school

proved that we were not "sincere" in seeking good relations.

The cases cited by the Chinese were such that they were almost

certainly an excuse rather than a reason for a change in policy.

It is possible that the Chinese had all along intended not to

issue visas and were only playing a sophisticated game of cat

and mouse, but I am inclined to doubt this as the tactics they

used were uncharacteristic. It seems to me more likely that

relatively junior officials were moving towards normal treat-

ment of the Mission and that this was either countermanded

higher up or no final decision has yet been taken. In either

case it is quite likely that the present state of uncertainty

about Chinese policy towards our Mission will continue for some

time.

4. On 11 December, however, the Chinese said that exit visas

would be issued to the Blishen family, which was the most

urgent outstanding case since Mrs. Blishen has been very

seriously ill and Mr. Blishen has also not been well. The

sensitiveness of the Chinese to Hr. Hopson's use of the term

"gangsters" suggests that they were reluctant to face publicity

I

Ľ

SECRET

/about

SECRET

-3-

1..

F1 20

7188

about inhumane treatment of the Blishens (Peking telegram

E22/7 (42) No. 328).

Flag E

5. Despite the Blishen case, it must be accepted that the

remainder of our Mission remain virtually hostages in Peking

for a soft policy towards the communists in Hong Kong. So

long as the "confrontation" in Hong Kong continues this is

likely to remain true, even if we manage to extract some of

the present members of the Mission, possibly by sending in

replacements.

6.

Chinese are in two minds about how to continue the campaign

against the Hong Kong Government. There is one group that

wishes to discontinue the "confrontation" and there have been

some indications that this policy may gradually be coming into

the ascendant. We cannot however expect the campaign to be

turned off suddenly and there is a danger that, even if Chira

wants a calming down, local communist extremists will take the

initiative into their own hands and precipitate further crises,

which will force Chine to come out in their support.

7. The Chinese have made it very clear that they are sensitive

about the treatment of Chinese owned communist newspapers and

of the communist schools in Hong Kong: both are of course

good vehicles for the propagation of Kao's Thoughts. Because

of their sensitivity and the consequent dangers of provoking

disorders in Hong Kong or further action against our Kission

in Peking, the Hong Kong Government have in fact persuaded

THIS IS A COPY

MEHAS

SRCHET

THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN RETAINED

IN THE DEPARTMENT UNDER SECTION

3 (4) OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS) ACT 1908

/two

SECRET

Flag F

two individual plaintiffs in court actions against the

communist press to postpone the assessment of damages arising

out of the successful libel actions. The Governor of Hong

Kong has also reported that the Bank of China has made

approaches to one of those concerned in what might conceivably

be an attempt to discover the terms under which the communist

press would be allowed to operate freely by the Government.

These approaches are still in an early stage and we do not

really know what the Chinese intentions are.

8.

Although the Hong Kong Government have in this way tried

to avoid provocative action, there is of course the danger of

too many minor concessions of the sort referred to in the fore-

going paragraph encouraging the communists to press for greater

I think it is right to avoid or delay action which

we know will be considered highly provocative, but I am also

convinced it is only by firm and successful action in Hong

Kong that we can persuade the Chinese that the campaign has

been a failure and must be discontinued. At some point the

victories.

Chinese will probably look for a means of saving face and

representing the campaign as a "victory", and it may well be

in our interests at that time to give them some help. But I

think that any precipitate attempt to do so would only encourage

the extremista. Sir Arthur Galsworthy, who is in Hong Kong

this week, will be discussing these issues with the Governor.

9. At present the Chinese equate treatment of our Kission

in Peking and the conduct of policy in Hong Kong.

For our

Mission

1

SECRET

[

لا

SECRET

5.

+

Kission this is obviously a dangerous equation, and it is

very much in our interests to reintroduce the Chinese Mission

in London as an element in the equation. This is, however,

not easy to do.

we might attempt to make the Chinese anxious

to remove one or more of their people from London. The possi- bilities are not extensive, but a fairly promising scheme involving one individual is being drawn up. The other possi- bility is to give publicity to the plight of our Mission in Peking, particularly in countries where the Chinese are

sensitive about their image. This is a two-edged weapon

since, although it will certainly embarrass the Chinese, it

will also make the crisis in relations between our two countrica

publicly obvious and this in turn may make it harder for the

Chinese to give concessions. It is a weapon which Mr. Hopson

has up to now been anxious that we should not use. Although I understand Mr. Hopson's hesitation, I think that we shall be forced to use the publicity weapon if the slight signs of

I think relaxation which have been apparent do not continue.

the timing of this should be to prepare the first moves in a carefully directed propaganda campaign at the beginning of

January if there has been no further progress by then.

M7: Rarger

Humay

(James Kurray)

18 December, 1967

Whilkansen

+

DECHLT

THIS IS A COPY

THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN RETAINED IN THE DEPARTMENT UNDER SECTION

3 (4) OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT 1968

1

نت

SECRET

DIN

719

Cypher/Cat· A

Hu RONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (D.T.D.)

Telno 1863

SECRET

12 December, 1967

AR

b. No.31

1 DEC 1967

FD113

Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No.1863 of 12 December, Repeated for information to Peking.

Your telegram No.2512: Deportation of Prisoners.

I would at present be reluctant to try this manoeuvre without some fairly firm indication that the deportees would be accepted at the border because once it became clear that we were unable to effect deportation, then the threat of deportation (which still has some deterrent value) would cease to have any credibility.

2. Arrangements can be made legally to effect release if deportacs are accepted back or take them into custody again if they are not: the procedures will vary with different categories of convicted prisoner or detainee. It is not however an entirely simple matter of letting then go or putting them under restraint again; there are legal processes to be gone through which cannot be entirely ignored and could be quite complex.

FD

る。

Poking telegram to Foreign Office No.326 has been received

since the above was drafted. I agree we should wait to see how we get on over Wen Woi Pao before taking this any further; but in the meanwhile we will examine the possibilities of proceeding as proposed

in more detail.

Foreign Office please pass routine to Peking as my telegram

No.663.

Sir D.Trench,

(Repetition to Peking referred for Departmental decision].

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

C.O. H.K.D.

F.E. & P.D.

J.I.R.D.

F.O. P.E.D.

Timmed on Jeking Minutad

326.

tel. no

3410

0 days

pe

88888

SECRET

Cypher/Cat A

SECRET

PRIORITY PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telny 326

SECRET

RECEIVED 'N

11 December 1967

EC 1967

FD13

18

kodressed to Foreign ürrice telegram No. 526 of 11 December. Repeated for information to Hong Kong.

Your telegram No. 1069: Deportation

I agree that the Chinese are unlikely to enter into discussion on this subject. Procedure as outlined in your paragraph 2 seems best though I think our communication should be a bare statement of ract with no (repeat no) reference to improving relations. The Chinese would in any case understand it in this sense.

2. I cannot guarantee that the Chinese would agree to accept deportees. It is quite probable that they would refuse. But it is possible they would accept them and at the same time make a lot of propaganda spout illegal deportations. It would I think therefore be worth trying at some stage, providing the Governor can take them back ir necessary, Even in this case the gesture would have been made and they might come back on it later. Let us see how we get on over wen Hui Pao before taking a decision.

Foreign Ürrice please pass Priority Hong Kong 168.

Mr. Hopson

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F... F.E.D.

U.0. H.A.Dept.

[Repeated as requested)

Is Myray..

I think The Hopson in

F.E. & P.D. J.L.R.D.

light.

나. 1

aggat

Норга

ar the again

Now sue further delegram.

for

abour exchanging Hsuch Aug.

Hr Grez

ECRET

तू

العام

looke

are.

i

10 day..

ستانها

~ 24/20

Mr Hotelson Four 10 days

I agite.

1. 2012/

Dec.

12:xi

1

I

SECRET

CYPHER/CAT A

PRIORITY COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG

0 2500

نا

Mona

O

(D.T.D.)

7 DECEMBER, 1967 (HWB 3/2)

1 DEC 1967

FD1/3

SECRET

FD1/3/113

ADDRESSED TO HONG KONG T.LEGRAM NO. 2500 OF 7 DECEMBER.

RAM NO. 2500 OF 7 DECEMBER. REPEATED

FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING POLAD SINGAPORE AND WASHINGTON. YOUR TELEGRAMNNO 1828 PEKING STAFF EXIT VISAS.

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR HELPFUL COMMENTS AND AGREE WITH ANALYSIS IN YOUR PARAGRAPH 1.

THE

2. WE ACCEPT BOTH THE JUSTIFICATION AND THE NEED FOR YOUR POLICY ON COMMUNIST SCHOOLS AND PUPILS AND DO NOT WISH TO URGE THAT YOU RECONSIDER THE DECISION TO QUOTE DEREGISTER UNQUOTE CHUNG WAH SCHOOL OR ITS STAFF OR FOR THE TIME BEING THE DETENTION OF THE HEADMASTER. SUBJECT TO HOPSON'S VIEWS (SEE PARAGRAPH 4 BELOW) HE MIGHT AT SOME STAGE BE USED AS A BARGAINING COUNTER.

3. THE CONSIDERATIONS SET OUT IN YOUR PARAGRAPHS 7 AND 8 RELATING TO OUTSTANDING ACTIONS AGAINST THE PRESS ARE FULLY APPRECIATED AND UNDERSTOOD, WE DO NOT THINK THAT ANY GENERAL ATTEMPT SHOULD BE MADE TO AMELIORATE THE LEGAL CONSEQUENCES FOR THESE NEWSPAPERS, BUT YOU MIGHT DELAY THE SEIZURE OF ASSETS OF NEWSPAPERS AS PROPOSED IN YOUR PARAGRAPH 8, UNTIL WE SEE HOW THE SITUATION DEVELOPS IN PEKING,

4. WE ALSO SUPPORT THE SUGGESTION IN PARAGRAPH 9 THAT IF THE CHINESE MFA ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT DEPORTEES CERTAIN OF THE DETAINEES MIGHT BE RELEASED ON CONDITION OF THEIR RETURN TO CHINA ON DEPORTATION ORDERS. HOPSON IS, HOWEVER, BEING ASKED FOR HIS VIEWS ON THIS IN A SEPARATE TELEGRAM.

CROSEC

DEPARTMEN

DISTRIBUTION

0.0. HONG KONG DEPT.

2.3.1.D.

عهم

J.I.R.D.

!.!.P.G.D.

NEWS DEPT.

F.O. F.2.D,

YOL AND CONFERENCE DEPT.

P.C.D.

D.S.A.C. PERSONNEL DEPT.

SECRET

+

CYPHER/CAT A

FD1/3.

SECRET

116

PLURITY FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING

TELNO. 1069

SECRET

8 DECEMBER 1967 (FED)

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 1069 OF 8 DECEMBER REPEATED

FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG.

HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 1820 DEPORTATION OF PRISONERS.

PARAGRAPH 9.

OUR PRELIMINARY VIEW IS THAT THE CHINESE WOULD BE UNLIKELY TO ENTER INTO A DISCUSSION ABOUT ACCEPTING DEPORTEES AND THAT THAT ONLY EFFECT OF PUTTING THE PROBLEM TO THEM WOULD BE TO MAKE

THEM PRESS FOR FULFILMENT OF ALL THE QUOTE FIVE DEMANDS UNQUOTE. 2. THERE MIGHT HOWEVER BE SOME ADVANTAGE IN SELECTING A BATCH OF SUITABLE PRISONERS AND DETAINEES AND THEN NOTIFYING THE CHINESE THAT AS AN EARNEST OF OUR DESIRE TO IMPROVE RELATIONS WE INTENDED TO RELEASE THEM AND RETURN THEM TO CHINA ON A CERTAIN DAY. IF THE CHINESE WERE NOT (REPEAT NOT) PREPARED TO ACCEPT THEM THEY WOULD PROBABLY MAKE THIS CLEAR IN ADVANCE, IF THEY MADE NO REPLY BUT, WHEN THE TIME CAME, REFUSED TO ACCEPT THEM AT THE FRONTIER, THE PERSONS CONCERNED WOULD HAVE TO BE PUT BACK IN CONFINEMENT. IF THE CHINESE DID ACCEPT THE FIRST BATCH IT MIGHT THEN BE POSSIBLE TO INDICATE THAT PROVIDED AN IMPROVEMENT IN RELATIONS WAS MAINTAINED THERE WOULD BE FURTHER RELEASES. THIS WOULD EVENTUALLY GIVE THE CHINESE AN EXCUSE TO CLAIM THAT THEIR DEMAND ABOUT PRISONERS HAD BEEN MET, AS WELL AS RELIEVING HONG KONG OF UNWANTED PERSONS. 3. CLEARLY THIS MAY NOT EVEN BE A STARTER, BUT WE SHOULD WELCOME

YOUR VIEWS.

SOSFA

Now see reply.

р.с

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

7.0. C.0.

F.E.D.

H.K.D.

F.E. & P.D.

DDDDD

J.I.R.D.

SECRET

L

Registry No. 01/3.

DEPARTMENT

P.E.D.

SECUNTY CLASSIFICATION

PRIORITY MARKINGS

(Date)

despatch

Top-Secret

Secret

Restricted"

Emergency) #

Impudiate Priority

En Clair Code

[

Cypher

Security classification

[Codeword-if any}

--

Draft Telegrando:-

Addressed to

No.

(Dale)

EK ZAG

And fo:-

1069

8/12

telegram No...

And to

repeated for information to

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

reach addressee(s)

9/12

+

SECRET

Peking

Lobs (date)

ד

Hong Kong

8 Dec

(116.

.

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Ø

Repeat to:-

FONG RONG

2512

Saving to:-

Григор

Distribution:-

8 the.

Departmental

F.E.D. H.K.D.

Copies to:--

1805787:2

Saving to..

+

1071

Hong Kong telegram No. 1820 paragraph I Deportation of prisoners

Paragraphe

Our preliminary view is that the Chinese

would be unlikely toenter into a discussion

about accepting deportees and that the only effect

of putting the problem to them would be to make

them press for fulfilment of all the "five demands".

2. There might however be some advantage in

selecting a batch of suitable prisoners and

detainees and then notifying the Chinese that as

an earnest of our desire to improve relations we

intended to release them and return them to China

on a certain day. If the Chinese were not (repeat not) prepared to accept them they would probably

make this clear in advance If they made no reply

but, when the time came, refused to accept them

at the frontier, the persons concerned would have

to be put back in confinement. If the Chinese

did accept the first batch it might then be

possible to indicate that provided an improvement

in relations was maintained there would be further

releases. This would eventually give the Chinese

/an

SECRET

an excuse to claim that their demand about prisoners had been

met, as well as relieving Hong Kong of unwanted persons.

MANI

theim hating many

SVEN

with even

3. Clearly this

welcome you'

VILLA

VICUS.

stanter, but we should

Алеви

Departmental dist.

(2) 100% HUAJ ŠUL

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

118

~/pher/Cat A

SECRET

Tel. Sent to Hong Kong recommending postponement

FLASH PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE"

Tel 325

SECRET

of avermers.

11 December 1967

р-с

11 SEC 1967

3

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 325 of 11 December, Repeated for information to Hong Kong, Washington, POLAD Singapore

Not yet lead

Your telegram No. 2500 to Hong Kong: Measures to assist Mission in Peking.

Not

Reedy

西

FD1/3 (102)

You will since have seen Hong Kong telegram No. 1835 and my telegram No. 322 in which I recommended evasive action in

Fen Hul Pao case. As assessment of damages is due to take place on 14 December action will have to be taken very soon.

2. I have stressed in my telegrams that as seen from here measures against Chinese press in Hong Kong are most sensitive issue here. I may be wrong but I believe action in suppressing violence e.g. [? ¿p omitted] on schools is more readily under- stood here. We have reason to think Chinese leaders dislike schools being used for this purpose though they feel it incumbent to protest ainst raids and to exploit them as useful propaganda theme. Action against press has always been a particularly sore spot and has resulted in counter case here e.g. detention of Gray and burning of this mission. The latest Chinese protest contains warning that further counter case may be taken if we press Wen Hui Al [sic] case to conclusion.

3. In paragraph 2 of my telegram No. 322 I argue that there is another reason to place action against Chinese press in a different category. According to Mr. Hsueh, Wen Hui Pao has "never incited people to make bombs". I should be grateful if Hong Kong would confirm whether this is broadly true. If it is not I should be grateful to receive by telegram some inflammatory examples, which would have to be recent to be relevant to present situation. In any case Hsueh's remarks may be relevant to the future. If the Chinese leaders wish to disengage to some extent and go over to "peaceful struggle" they will need their main organs Wen Hui Pao and Ta Kung Pao to propagandise line and reassert control. If this is true it would not (repeat not) be in our interests to interfere with them too much at present.

4. I therefore feel obliged to revert to my strong recommendation that we whould take some evasive action in Wen Hui Pao case. If it is too much to get Olivier to withdraw I hope as a minimum it would be possible to find some way of postponing assessement of damage.

5. We have just been summoned to the Consular Department this afternoon to discuss visas. I hesitate to forecast what this will bring but if it is a Christmas present then I think that arguments for stalling on Wen Hui Pao will be even stronger.

/6. I am

SECRET

SECRET

PEKING TELEGRAM NO. 325 TO FOREIGN OFFICE

2

Awriting Amil

?

6.

I am replying separately to your telegram No. 1069.

Foreign Office pass Flash Hong Kong 167, Priority Singapore 47, Washington 47.

Mr. Hopson.

[Repeated as requested]

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

F.0.

F.E.D. P.C.D.

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

C.O. H.K.D.

P.E.F.D.

Defence Dept.

J.I.R.D.

J.I.P.G.D.

News Dept. O.P.A.

O.L.A.

DDDDD

SECRET

+

!

1

Cypher/Cat.A

SECRET

R

112

N. 31

Read

IMMEDIATE PEKING TO

Telno. 322

SECRET

FOREIGN OFFICE

9 December 1967

Soperte Rubhuise.

ре

ILI

1367

Fort3

"/

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram M. 322 of 9 December. Repeated for information to Hong Kong.

Hong Kong telegram No. 1835 to Commonwealth Office: Chinese Policy towards Hong Kong.

I see the situation as rather more complex. Ever since the Cultural Revolution began events in Hong Kong have to a large extent reflected events in China. Earlier this year we had a phase of extreme violence. Now the tendency in China is to try to re-impose control. But the leadership is finding this a difficult task in many provinces one of which is Kwangtung where the situation is always closely relevant to Hong Kong. It is therefore quite probable that in the present circumstances the Chinese leadership does wish to disengage to some extent in Hong Kong, but are finding it difficult to re-impose control on their groups particularly there. An important cause of this difficulty may be that the situation in Kwangtung has not yet been settled. In order to re-assert control in Hong Kong and to strengthen hand of the "moderates" they may deem it essential to show some kind of "victory".

2.

The question arises therefore as to whether we should make some kind of gesture to help this trend. There is a danger, as the Governor has pointed out, that this would be seen as a sign of weakness and might have an effect contrary to that desired by encouraging the extremists to ask for more. On the other hand it might help the Chinese leaders to reassert control and disengago. At this stage I agree that it would probably be unwise to give substantial further grofind. Nevertheless "Wen Hui Pao" must I think be seen as rather a special case. Distinctions can be drawn between operations to stop violence and action against the main Left Wing newspaper. It is relevant that on 6 December Mr. Hsueh maintained that Wen Hui Pao had never instigated [grp.omitted]ism. To allow ourselves to get into a position where with damage assessed and payment refused Hong Kong Government are obliged to take severe legal measures .g. distraint against the newspapers would I am sure be seen by the Chinese as extreme provocation. Their wrath might well be visited on this Mission as threatened in their latest protest by the imposition of further restrictions. A withdrawal by civil plaintiff would not on the other hand directly engage the prestige of Hong Kong Government.

3. We do not wish to give the Chinese Government the impression that we are vulnerable to pressure. Indeed here we are letting it be known that everyone is settling down to make the most of Christmas and we have stopped pressing daily for exit visas.

We may have

SECRET

+

SECRET

Peking telegram No. 322 to Foreign Office

- 2 -

We may have to wait some time in the hope things will calm down in Hong Kong and this may not come till the Province of Kwangtung is settled. I agree that meanwhile emphasis in Hong Kong must be on maintenance of law and order but I hope this may be done with the maximum of restraint and constant regard for possible repercussions on this Mission. Neverthe- less I think it is essential to take some evasive action in the Wen Hui Pao case if we are to avoid serious trouble and I recommend strongly that plaintiff be asked to withdraw his claim for damages unless there is some better way of shelving the case.

Foreign Office pass Immediate Hong Kong 165.

Mr. Hopson

[Repeated as requested]

FILES

F.0.

F.E.D.

Sir D. Allen

Mr. Wilkinson

P.S.

P.S.'s Dept.

P.S..to P.U.S.

H.K.D.

C.O.

F.E. & P.D.

Mr. Hall

P.S.

P.S.'s Dept.

P.S..to P.U.S.

SSSSS

SECRET

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

TELEGRAM SECTION

Room 124 K.C.S.

Communications Department FED

FD1/3

114

YTC/1

* Please send copies of the following telegram

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

Amended Dist 11/12/67

(* delete as applicable)

FROM PEKING 322.

TO:

9/12/67

Hong Kong Situation (" China, Altitude) Dat

(Signed)

(Department)......

(Date)......

Action taken in Communications Department:

(Initials)....

rm

(Date)....

11/12/67

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)

LOP COPY

REDES

AMENDED DISTRIBUTION

Cypher/CLV.A

ILMEDIATE PEKING TO

FOREIGN OFFICE

322

1.114

14 DECEMBER 1967-

IAR: Sew Ne 31

9 December 1967

1 20EC 1967

FD1/B

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 322 of 9 December. Repeated for informauion to Hong Kong.

Hong Kong telegram No. 1835 to Commonwealth Office: Chinese Policy Towards Hong Kong.

I see the situation es rather more complex. Ever since the Cultural Revolution began events in Hong Kong cave to a large Gliment reflected events in Chine. Earlier this year we had a Phase of extreme violence. Now the tendency in China is to

But the leadership is finding this a difficult task in many provinces one of which is Kwangtung where the situation is always al gely relvant to Hong Kong. it is

try to re-impose control.

ANTA CL

+

Tow:

Champse loddersnip does wish to disengage to some extent in hong long, but are finding it difficult to re-impose control on th.iz groups particularly there. Ar. important cause of this d.iculty may be that the situation in Kwangtung has not yet been settled. In order to re-assert control in Hong Kong and to strengthen hand of the "nuderetes" they may deem i essential to show some kind of "victory".

2.

RAK

The question arises therefore as to whether we should sore kind of gesture to help this trend. There is a danger, As the Governor has pointed out, that this would be seen as a

of weakness and might have an effect contrary to that

and diseng-ge.

kypet that it wolle partake,

be unwise to give substantial further ground. Nevertheless

+

BUL FAT" Z

think he seen so manden & oneniel nese. ORDERS DEZ qe drawn Den een operaDA ODO

is belevazu

action against the main Luib Wing newspaper. that on 6 December Kr. Egueh zairiained that Wen Hui Pao had never

To allow ourselves to get into a instigated Igrp.omittedlism. position where with damage assessed and payment refused Hong Kong Government are obliged to take severe legal measures e.g. distraint against the newspapers would I am sure be seen by the

Their wrath might well be Chinese as extreme provocation.

sited on this Mission as threatened in their latest protest bo

A withdrawal by civil the imposition of further restrictions. plaintiff would not on the cozer land direc.ly engage the prestiD- of Hong Kong Government.

3. We do not wish to give the Chinese Government the impression Indeed here we are letting it tom. we are vulnerable to pressure. be known that everyone is ttling down to make the most of Christmas and we have stopped pressing daily for exit visas.

SECRET

We may have

I

SKOREA

Peking Telegram No. 322 to Foreign Office

- 2 -

may have to wait some time in the hope things will calm

i Eong Kong and this may not angtung is settled. I agree that

till the Province of anwhile emphasis in

Hong Kong must be on maintenance of 1. and order but I hope

15 may be done with the maximum of restraint and constant regard for possible repercussions on this Kission. Neverthe- is I think it is essential to take some evasive action in the Wen Hui Pao case if we are to avoid serious trouble and I recomand strongly that plaintiff be asked to withdraw his claim for damages unless there is some better way of shelving the case.

Foreign Office pass Immediate Hong Kong 165.

Hopson

[Repeated as requested]

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUZION

F.O. F.E.D.

C.0.

.K.D.

2.E. P.D.

L.I. P.G.D. J.K.R.D.

ws'Dept..

S$65$

SECRET

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

I

1

1

J

CYPHER/CAT A

IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TO COM ONWEALTH OFFICE

SECRET U

Reply sear.

#gondo

113

pay (1.T.).)

TC 1820

5 DECEMBER, 1967

FD1/3

SECRET ADDRESSED C.O. TELEGRAM 1820 OF 5 DECEMBER REPEATED FOR INFORM TO. PEKING, POLAD SINGAPORE AND WASHIN

F2313-186

184

WASHINGTON

PEKING TELEGRAMS 296, 297 AND 298 PEKING STAFF EXIT VISAS.

I AM MOST ANXIOUS TO DO ANYTHING I CAN TO HELP THE STAFF IN PEKING IN THE FACE OF THIS VERY UNPLEASANT DEVELOPMENT, BUT THERE HAS BEEN

SHALL SIGN INSIDE HONG KONG OF ANY ATTEMPT BY THE COMMUNISTS TO NORMALISE THE SITUATION SEMICOLON BOMB ATTACKS CONTINUE REGULARLY

AND THE PRESS HAS MAINTAINED ITS VIRULENT CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT PRAISING VIOLENCE AND CALLING FOR PERSISTENT COUNTER-ATTACKS. SCHOOLS AND UNIONS HOLD REGULAR 'DENUNCIATION MEETINGS' AND ADVOCATE CONTIN- VALCE OF THE STRUGGLE. IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THERE COULD BE. A

LOSS OF PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IF I WERE NOW OUT OF THE BLUE TO MAKE

SUBSTANTIAL CONCESSIONS TO THE COMMUNISTS. AGAIN, I SHOULD HAVZ THOUGHT THERE WAS A DANGER THAT IF WE YIELD MUCH GROUND IN RESPONSE

TO THIS LATEST FORII OF PRESSURE, THE COMMUNISTS CWHO MAY ALREADY HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED BY GAINING MUCH OF WHAT THEY 'DEMANDED' IN THE

BORDER TALKS) MAY SIMPLY ASK FOR HORE.

·

2. THE POSITION IS THEREFORE A DIFFICULT ONE FROM HY POINT OF VIEW SEMICOLON BUT I TAKE THE VARIOUS HAJOR CURRENT ISSUES IN TURN SELOW

TO INDICATE WHAT MIGHT BE DONE.

3. SCHOOLS. TO ASK THE COURTS TO GIVE ONLY LIGHT SENTENCES TO PUPILS

AND TEACHERS, HANY OF WHOM HAVE COMMITTED SERIOUS OFFENCES, WOULD SE

I

BE

A DANGEROUS INTERFERENCE WITH THE NORMAL PROCESSES OF LAW. IN FACT

COURTS HAVE FREQUENTLY TRIED TO BIND OVER COMMUNIST PRISONERS INSTEAD

OF SENTENCING, BUT IMPRISONMENT HAS FOLLOWED BECAUSE PRISOMERS

AAFUSED TO ENTER INTO A DOMD.

4. ON THE OTHER HAND, IN DEALING WITH COMMUNIST SCHOOLS WE HAVE

ALWAYS DONE OUR BEST TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE ARE CONCERNED TO

PREVENT

·

SECRET

SECRET

HONG KONG TELEGRM 89. 18OD KT. GOUNOHIFA TH OFFIGU

FOR

..

PREVRGE THE USE OF THE PAS MER HELLAL PURPOSES RATHER LIAN

I

INSTRUCTION IN THE THOUGHTS OF AO SERICOLOT! AND WE SHALL TAKE THE GREATEST CARE IN FUTURE (AS HITHERTO) TO ENSURE THAT RAIDS TAKE

PLACE ONLY WHEN WE HAVE THE CLEAREST REASON TO BELIEVE THAT OFFENCES

ARE BEING COMMITTED IN A PARTICULAR SCHOOL.

5. THE ACTION AGAINST CHUNG WALL SCHOOL WAS NOT 'PUNITIVE'. PUPILS AND STAFF OF THE SCHOOL HAVE BEEN INCREASINGLY INVOLVED IN BREACHES

OF THE LAW SEMICOLON TUO TEACHERS AND SEVENTEEN PUPILS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR 'STRUGGLE' OFFENCES SINCE SEPTEMBER SEMICOLON AND WHEN

WE GOT SUCH VERY DRAMATIC AND PUBLIC EVIDENCE THAT THE PREMISES

WERE BEING USED FOR THE HANUFACTURE OF EXPLOSIVES WE HAD NO OPTION

BUT TO TAKE ACTION.EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TODAY ADVISED THE DEREGISTRATION

OF THE CHUNG WAH SCHOOL AND THE HEADMASTER AND TEACHERS SEMICOLON BUT THE TIMING OF THE DEREGISTRATIONS AND THEIR ANNOUNCEMENT HAVE

BEZH LEFT TO MY DISCRETION: AND I WILL TAKE NO FURTHER ACTION UNTIL I HEAR FURTHER FROM YOU. IF THE SCHOOL IS MOT TO BE DEREGISTERED

IRCUNST

HAP

IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, HOWEVER, IT IS HARD TO THINK OF ANY MORE

!

VALID GROUNDS FOR THE DEREGISTRATION OF A SCHOOL.

6. I COULD ALSO RECONSIDER THE DETENTION OF THE HEADMASTER WONG CHO-

I FAN LATER: BUT I DOUBT IF I COULD BOTH RELEASE HIM AND NOT DEREGISTER

THE SCHOOL.

7. THE PRESS. THE MAJOR DIFFICULTY HERE IS THAT 'WEN WEI PAO' HAVE ALREADY IN EFFECT 'DARED' US TO CONTINUE THE ACTION CHY TELEGRAN 1771 PARAGRAPII 1 REFERS) AND HAVE PROPHESIED THAT WE SHALL HOT DO

SO BECAUSE WE ARE FRIGHTENED OF THE CONSEQUENCES. NEVERTHELESS,

INTOPAGANDA CLAINS OF THIS SORT BY THE COMMUNISTS NO LONGER CUT TUD RUCH ICE IN HONG KONG SEMICOLON AND I AM PREPARED TO ASK OLIVIER IF,

IN VIEW OF THE APPARENT BEARING OF HIS CASE ON THE TREATMENT OF THE

STAFF IN PEKING, HE WOULD BE PREPARED TO WAIVE THE CLAIM FOR DAMAGES

AS PROPOSED IN PARAGRAPH 3 OF PEKING TELEGRAM 298. ASSESSMENT OF

DAHAGES 15 DUE ON DECENLER 14, BUT 1-AM ADVISED THAT IT WOULD DE AS

VELL TO DISCONTINUE THE ACTION BEFORE THE DAY SET FOR THE HEAR ING. IF THIS CONCESSION HAD ANY USEFUL EFFECT ON THE C.P.G., I WOULD DE

/PREPARED TO

SECRET

!

SECRET

تا

1

HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 1820 TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

-3-

PREPARED TO CONSIDER SIMILAR ACTION IN THE OTHER THREE OUTSTANDING

CINTERLOCUTORY JUDGMENTS HAVE DEEN GIVEN IN ALL, BUT DANAGES

ARE NOT LIKELY TO BE ASSESSED DEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. I CANNOT

OF COURSE' GUARANTEE THAT THOSE CONCERNED WILL AGREE,

ALSO

8. I AN ALSO PREPARED TO DELAY FOR A TIME THE SEIZURE OF THE ASSETS

OF THE NEWSPAPERS CLOSED IN AUGUST CHY TELEGRAM 545 TO PEKINGS

WHICH HAVE NOT YET PAID THEIR FINES. HOWEVER THIS ACTION MUST

EVENTUALLY. BE TAKEN IN TIME TO PREVENT THE PAPERS RESUMING

PUBLICATION IN FEBRUARY.

9. DETAINEES. WE HAVE EARLIER DISCUSSED (SEE MY TELNO 1501)

THE QUESTION OF RELEASING DETAINEES AND/OR PRISONERS. ISUEN'S

REMARKS CPEKING TELNO 272) ABOUT NORMALISATION GEING DEPENDENT

O!! **THE RELEASE OF ALL PRISONERS'' SUGGEST THAT THE CHINESE MAY '....

ATTACH PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE TO THIS ISSUE. I COULD NOT IN

L

PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES AGREE TO THE UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE IN THE

COLONY OF ANY OF THESE PEOPLE SENICOLOM BUT I WOULD BE PREPARED

ON

+

TO RELLASE CERTAIN OF THEN ON CONDITION OF THEIR RETURN TO CHINA

ON DEPORTATION ORDERS, AND INDEED I WOULD GREATLY WELCOME THE

ASSURED ABILITY TO DO SO AND WOULD BE ABLE TO ACT WITH MORE

TOLERANCE IN OTHER WAYS IF THIS POSITION WERE ACHIEVED. IF HM

CHARGE D'AFFAIRES THOUGHT THERE WAS ANY ADVANTAGE IN SOUNDING

OUT THE CHINSES MFA ON THEIR WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT DEPORTEES,

I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE NINI WITH DETAILS OF AN INITIAL BATCH

OF THESE PEOPLE FOR CONSIDERATION.

10. I AM AFRAID THAT NONE OF THIS HAY BE VERY EFFECTIVE, BUT IT

GOES AS FAR AS I THINK WE CAN HERE. I AM AFRAID ALSO THAT ALL

THIS MERELY ILLUSTRATES THE DANGERS OF THE DILEMHA WE ARE CONSTANTLY

III AS DETWEEN THE INTERESTS OF JONG KONG AND OUR MISSION, I WOULD

WELCOME YOUR EARLY VIEWS.

SECRET

/F.0. PLEASE PASS

'L

من

سا

SECRET

KONG TELEGRAM NO. 1820 TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

F.O. PLEASE PASS IMMEDIATE PEKING AS MY TELNO 648 AND ROUTINE

WASHINGTON AS MY 404.

SIR D. TRENCH

[REPETITION TO PEKING REFERRED FOR DEPARTMENTAL DECISION,

REPEATED AS REQUESTED TO OTHER POST.]

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

C.O. HONG KONG DEPT.

FAR EAST & PACIFIC DEPT.

J.I.R.D.

NEWS DEPT.

J.I.P.G.D.

F.O. FAR EASTERN DEPT.

PROTOCOL & CONFERENCE DEPT.

PASSPORT CONTROL DEPT.

DSAO PERSONNEL DEPT.

WWWWW

SECRET

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

Mr. de la Mure

Mr. Murray o/r

SECRET

Rr.

426HIVE: Day 3

-

12.

FD1/3

100

Mr. Wilford's Paper on Hong Kong

The Defence Review Working Party have been commissioned

to make a study of the long term future of Hong Kong for the

Defence and Oversea Policy Committee. The first rough draft

has been sent to the Cabinet Office by Mr. Carter. (This is

the only copy and in the interests of speed it has not been

cleared with us at this stage.) I understand that the draft

is to be circulated for comment by interested departments.

It will inevitably cover some of the ground in Mr. Wilford's

interesting paper. I have mentioned the paper informally to

the Commonwealth Office and we have agreed that any points in

it which we consider should be brought to the notice of the

Defence Review Working Party can be included as amendments

proposed by the Foreign Office.

2. My general comment is that unless there is a radical

change in the nature of the Chinese Government, it seems

unlikely that they would be prepared to negotiate on any terms

for the extension of the New Territories' lease after 1997.

A more moderate and pragmatic Government might however be

willing to negotiate about a smooth and peaceful handover of

the Colony and about any continuing British interest. Fe

will be submitting the Commonwealth Office draft with our

comments in due course.

SECRET

John Denson

(J. B. Denson) 22 November, 1967

L

Vens

2

NI

Very well. Please ensure that (a) the Memay sees 0/2 (6) in Wilkinson sees on animal(abul "See 4)

I

I writ that, even in the interests of specs, The C.0 had not sent a draft to the Cabinet Effice with and fist apeeing it with us. kinow that we shall have an opportunity to comment, but if a craft to which we have sting objecting has already been inculated to a number of Whittall defalmeck it will be

difficult to have it amended. The then putin of thinskay is after all in were which depends primarily

much more

with China

on om relations and I think that in the whole

we should have had if any had this is thing a greater share in the drafting than the C.'O. This is not simply a matter of jurisdiction. it is an F.O. responsibility to ensure that we fel the jinglet policy.

hom

24

am

23/4

May Wilson

23

pe

291

With the Compliments of the

Political Adviser

Hang rộng

PERSONAL

SECRET

(99)

November láth,' 1967.

FD1/31

I am so sorry not to have sent an earlier reply to your letter of Outober 19th (which owing to some vagary of the bag I did not get until the end of the month). I now enclose a copy of your paper with many apologies for not having sent it before. Unfortunately, I have as yet been unable, in the caelstrom of events connected with the frontier, to get it finally approved here. I am, however, sending a copy of it, with a copy of this letter to Arthur de la Mare.

2. Tung".

3.

I also enclose your copy of the "Thoughts of Mao Tse

You will have seen that the spate of curious events in the frontiur area contimed for a considerable time, and

I should be very surprised if more do not happen in the future, though just for the present wo have a lull, for obvious reasons. I am afraid that, given the pressures from both sides, the prospects of reaching any sensible settlement seem din.

K.M. Wilford, Esq., British Embassy, WASHINGTON.

do please

Mu Dungen for de

An

Sup as wi

100

SECRET

2014

(T.A.K. Elliott)

Mle

1744

No...

ghofred by Typed by-

This is the only fully corrected aby taking account f

Commento by

OAG.

FS

DES

SLO APA.

38/8.

Mo

+

41. Wilford.

2.

and

DRAFT

P

MASTER CO PY

In the annexed paper I soci

(a) to all the origins of the aorzisítion

by the British Crown of the various

parts of what is today the GroWM

Colony of Hong Kong;

(b) to assess the likely devolopmento oz

internat

ធម៌

the China scone in co far as tim,

affect Hong Kong;

(c) to outline the possible

--thos

which China and Eritain zu *

resolve their recpuctive pos.bions

over Hong Kong;

(d) to select which of the altorno.

at (c) above is most likely to your butt

Couns Sachin

a practicable in the long term.

I submit this paper for czivi.ás-

discussion. I believe that the procent permut

has had at least the virtue of convincing people

that the future of the Colony must be seriously

pigeon-horac рідеа

considered and not pushed tanker themes for faer

of effecting confidence. I do not believe the

future is wholly black and I think it is vital

that H.N.G.. in the U.K.,as woll as the HVX.

Government, should seriously consider the Loe

with a view to deciding which of the possible

solutions outlined ought to be acceptable to them,

on the assumption that something short of total

retro-cession to China of all the Colony Duiritory

is acceptable to whatever regins onergas in Okina

from the Cultural Revolution.

سمت

AREVA

SECRET

MWA

3

L

:

0001740 0.8. 174

DRAFT

Te No. Drafted by- Typed by-

+

Hone Fong, its past and future,

In 1841 following continued allegationsor 111 treatment of the British merchants at Canton

it was decided to mount a naval show of force ofI

the forts at the entrance to the post of Canton

on the Pearl River. This show of forcu hovlag

proved successful the Chinese Viconcy as Gantun agreed to ceãe to Britain in the same year wo

island on which Victoria now stands as a baɛe tru which British merchants might prosecuto their trado with China. The Emperor subsequently repudiabet this Viceroy's signature end it uas not able Dho Troaty of Manking was signed in 1342 at the -ù c2

e first Anglo-Chinese Lar that the cassida zas

we had of may lakon possession of the island. legally confirmed, The island, at the moment of ¡ cession, was virtually barren apart rem prvy-Ling

Though

barg

the home and livelihood wer a few fisherful..

2.

It is worth recalling that Fortumna lis already been in possession of the settlement of

Facao since 1557; H.. tas therefore only the second such cession to Rest European peters chich China had been obliged to incode. She had

however since the 17th century bean involved in the placation of Imperial Jussia's culto 1.

Kanchuria, where Russian end Chinesc ingerich

interests had first came into collision about

1651.

3.

In 1856 war broke out between Britain

and China for the second tine. Following the

advance of British forces from Tientsin to Pulling

العب

SECE

/0

+

+

0001740 4.F. 174

+

DRAFT

-2-

File No.

Drafted by- Typed by-

1

a further agreement was made, repudiated again

and subsequently ensirined in the Convention of

Poking of 1860 by which Chins coded, also in

perpetuity, the piece of the minimă opposite

Hong Kong island on which the British had, during

the second Angle-Chinese war, boom recustomed to

Erm

billet troops, which today we know as Kowloon.

The land which we acquired by this second cocsion

is limited by what is today known as Boundary

Stroot (in the middle of the built up area of Kowloon) and

Twe

aproximately 2 miles from the

Star Ferry, and boussou on the Leat approximately

by the present site of Had Tali alıyort. 70 the

came time as Kowloon was acquirJÁ 23 200

Stonecutters Island; no doubt at that t

little more than a quarrying site as ilu met -

* implied.

For the next 35 years the Crown Colony

of Hong Kong romained about 40 square miles in

extent. In 1995 however China suffered a further

shattering defeat at the hands of Japan and by

the Treaty of Shimonoseki had to make turritezial

concessions to the Japanese - particularly in

Korea - over which Ching had previously exercicod

a protectorate. Other imperial powers felt that

they could not be left out in the racc

concessions from the Chinesc; the hul

obtained concessions in Kanchuria, apart from

enormous gains at Chinese expense in what aro

SELEN

/tolay

3H |

I

0001740 0.7. 174

DRAFT

File No. Drafted by- Typed by-

Kat she

feeding rected ₤

space to answer

the foroper refence

of the Colony, decited

today the Far Eastern maritime provinco of the Soviet Union. The Germans sought and obtainod concessions in Shantung. The French, at the conclusion of the Franco/thinese war of 1235, had obtained a foothold in southern China. Britain, feeling harcelë obligod-not to ta-loft-buhanásán the-sereable for concessions, but n

wat my

MOPARSITY-G Caca-to

10 SOPA

تا

mêy in 1898 2/r the incorporation of the Hou

in toccosby it

Territories size passiemosinalitatii on a

99 years leace. Although the extent of the loase was fairly easily agroed, questicas of jizzodietien in the lensed area and the sethod of herdoves proved core difficult problems and in the and the area was, in April 1899, more or un itches ally

lescą takon ovos

the Chinese being in no

lien

to resist. By this Icase Britain acquirtù not only the New Territories as we know them today, but also the island Swithin what we call tho Square Boundary, that is, in particular, the island of lentao, but also many other islands.

5.

-

:

To the Chinese Government the Treaty of Nanking, the Convention of Feking and the agreement by which the New Territorics vore lɛased all caus within the heading of "unequal treaties" ca unoqual treaty being defined as a treaty imposed on vaina following military defcat, or, alternatively, a truaty imposed upon her at a moment of Stato to

Accordingly to their mind not cly is

weakness.

SP...

/tho

0001740

DRAFT

-4-

די

File No.

Drafted by-

Typad by--

That remment fre

but it is also own

to the stimulus to

production given by

the lease of the New Territories invalid

which

in any case is due to come to an end in 1997, but

the cessions are also invalid.

6.

of view

It is perhaps

-

from the British point

most logical to consider the future

situation of Hong Kong using the explay of the lease of the New Territories as a starting point. The New Territories provide that elcmcnt of space

without which the Island and Kowloon cannot breathe.

also

They/contain the international airport and the major part of Hong Kong's industrial production factories. Joday/H.X. is able to produce tex

201

ريد

407

of its vegetables, and a small proportion of ita

pigs, chickens and eggs,

(hip is largel, State

1-18/

becsuce of the improved methods of farming which have been developed in the New Territories,e to-s-ii-jv extent tug to the fantastic increase in the

Colony's population first because of the Japanese invasion of China in 1937 and more recently

following the establishment of the Feople's Rep- ublic of China across the border. Coupled with the

high birth rate this has led to an increase in the

population of the Colony from 1.6 million in 1941 when the Japanese invaded and captured the Colony to almost 4 million toway, though in the intervening period it had dropped sharply, there being only approximately 600,000 at the end of

the Japanese occupation. Kore important hotover

is the fact that the New Territories provide

the catchment areas for the Colony's main

SECRET

/reservoirs

DRAFT

-4A

File No.

Drafted by- Typed by-

reservoirs at Tai Lam Cheung (Castle Peak),

Jubilee reservoir at Tsuen Wan and at Shek Pik on

Lantac island. There are smaller reservoirs on

1

SECRET

+

.. island

0001740

UN. 174

DRAFT

-5-

File No.

Drafted by- Typed by-

444H

and cutting sependence

Ź

-com China

whom the East Rive supply had just bee arrvangend

H.K. island itself at' Pokfulam, Tad Tan Tak and

Aberdeen.

Added to the existing resorvoir capacity

new

of the New Territories will be the/Plover Cove scheme in 1968 which will practically treble storage capacity to a total of 47,000 million gallons. It is already coming into use, Bere

an arm of the sea has been dammed and is being gradually diluted so that it will eventually be a fresh water res.rvoir. By far the largest proportion, therefore, of Hong Kong's water supply

(while) is conserved in the New Territories,

(passed the pipe line) through the few ferrit Some taten sup.13

(through) (watas) from the East River in China/which is provided under an agreement signed by Hong Kong and the Kwangtung provincial authorities in 1964 at a cost of HK41.06 per 1,000 gallons. A possiþlo zeans

pasiple Comoply of the Colonyd

I

of adding to the fresh water/would be by the construction of desalinisation plants.

tw

A pilot

plant converting about 2 million gallons per day

was rejected by Government some

being far too costly and too small

;

'months ago; as

s cake

to affect the

issue, when daily consumption now varios between 60 and 130 million gallons depending upon whether severe rationing or a 24 hour supply is in force. The supply_from the Sast River had then just-boca arranged. It is for future consideration ho....JP whether a nuclear plant, coupled with electricity generation might help to solve Hong Kong's

Encha problems as these are developca, though to raise even more delicate problems in relatie..

China, if China remained hostile. Moreover, the

economic disposal of the electricity might be a problem.

SECRET

0001740

1121

DRAFT

1

-6-

I File No.

Drafted by- Typed by-

unless large scale,

crobly desalinizati

pants

intere erected

7.

From the preceding paragraph it is

apparent that Hong Kong, without the New

Territories, would find itself in a very difficult

economic position and in fact it is, to say the 10222,

arguable whether Hong Kong could survive as an

antity if deprived of the New Terr. tories which

represent 350 square miles out of a total area of

approximately 400 square miles. Certainly it would

not be the economic dynamo which it is today.

Moreover, it would be largely dependent upon China

for its vater supply

which, as precent

experience shows, could be an extremely vital form

of dependency.

18.

From the military point of view while it

is possible that the present frontics night in

certain circumstances be defensible if nuclear

weapons were used to discourage invasion.

+

could in no sense be termed defensible if it wore

advanced from Shun Chun and Shataukok to EBoundary

Street in the middle of a densely populated urban

area. For all these reasons I find it impossible

to accept the premise that Hong Kong is a viable

entity in the 20th century unless it has mi

breathing space provided by the New Territories.

I conclude from this that if we are deprived of the

New Territories there would be no case for

retaining the coded parts of the Colony. 19.

But what is the likelihood of Britain

retaining the New Territories after the expiry

of the lease in 1997 The answer to this appeara

SECRET

ON 2

+

174

DRAFT

-7-

+

I

File No. Drafted by- Typed by-

and

to be that the chances are extremely slim; moreover that they depend entirely upon the outcome of the Cultural Revolution in China. At one end of the scale it can be said with certainty that if Wao Tse-tung succeeds in his

fforts to create a China in permanent revolutionary ferment, there is no chance at all of the lease being extended or inieod of any other arrangement being negotiated which might leave the New Territories within British control. At the other end of the scale there is tho possibility that Kao's efforts will prove to be a İtotal failure and that his regine will give place to another Communist, but pragmatic or technocrat, regime in which the executive Loaders of present day China such as Chou In-lai, ži Hsien-nien, Chen Yi, Li Fu-chun, Hoich Fu-chih or their successors will predominate. In these circumstances it is conceivable that there Z be in power a regine, still Communist, but doäicated to the creation of a modern 20th century State whose first ambition will be to create a China "great, rich, strong and socialist" as Li Fu-chun put it in 1960. In such circumstances it is at least conceivable that the Chinese Goverment will attach more importance to the continucâ existence of a complex which provides 45% of

their foreign exchange earnings totalling today

U.S

more than/$600 million and by 1997 perhaps as much

SECRET

/as

0001240

GIF. 174

File No.

INI

Drafted by- Typed by-

A

dechring 2

DRAFT

-8-

0.5

as $1,000 million thɛn to the extirpation of the

last colonial foothold on the mainland of Asia.

In thos circumstances it is not beyond the bounds

Lock

of possibility that the Chinese Govermont of the

time will decide to some sort of a rang

vivendi with fi.1.0. which will enablo Britain to

retain sufficient land to administo a viable

(that they)

concern, or will simply let things drift.

conclude that it is very unlikely, but just

possible, that some tacit acceptance of the continued

ར་

med existence of H.X. in its present form

might be permitted by China. But this would

provide no basis for planning and such uncertainty

! thave love would be intolerable. We shoula bu obligen/to

force the Chinese to some sort of conclusion.

10.-

The Possibilities.

In the next section of this paper

consider what I believe to be the possible

compromises between extreme positions which might

attract both sides. In descending order of

attractiveness from the British point of view I list the following:

(a) Continuation of present luase of

New Territories on the present no

rent terms;

continuod acceptance

by the Chinese of cession of HM.

island and Kowloon,

(b) Continuation of present lcase

New Territories with Britain paying

an economie rent;

rent; contimed

SECRE

/ccceptanco

0001745" GLUE, 174

File No. Drafted by-

Typed by-

DRAFT

-9-

on it's presumi per frenance HAG

is unlikely to

11.

acceptance by Chinese of cession

of H.K. island and Kowloon.

(c) Continuation of present lease of Now Territories at an exorbitant

rent as a condition of which Chinese

continue to accept cession of E.X.

island and Kowloon.

(a) Continuation of present lease of

New Territories at an economia en

exorbitant rentwith Kowloon also

converted to a rented basis; H.K.

island remaining on a ceded basis. (e) Britain retrocedes H.K. daları

and Kowloon in return for lesses of

both territories as well as the Hew

Territorios at nominal, ceont-dateN

exorbitant renta.

(f) Britain retrocedes H.X. island and

Kowloon and gives up its lease of the New Territories. (This could happen

in 1997 when the New Territories*

lease expires or at some earlier stage.)

The problems which would be created by any

of the above solutions are legion. Who, for example, would pay any agreed rent?

Almost certainly H.K. Government would have to do so, though-H4.6. night help. The question how much R.K. would be prepared

to pay to survive in its present form is impossible

SHERRY

/to

0001740

G

File No.

Drafted by-

Typed by-

זיים

rend- based in

renomable

percentage of Imestic расслобода

exports might have

1

in both sid

I

DRAFT

-10-

to assess. It would almost certainly be necessary to lease unprofitable islanda corely in order to maintain the "square boundary". Nevertheless, if the Chinese Government show eny willingness to permit the Colony to survive these are bases on which a negotiation might be possible.

12.

In addition to this list of graduated variations of leases with varying rent scales and cessions, there is another grozy of

possibilities which might be described as "three China" solutions.

{Parca}

A F Chine solution

would be based on H.K. becoming an independent territory. There are countries which are fully independent, with little more superficial area, and nothing like the population or the econonde pátential of H.K. But it seems unthinkable that China - or for that matter Taiwan eculd abu- that Hong Kong, which both regard as part of China and its inhabitants as compatriots, should become an independent sovereign state or even an international zone housing the United NationS

as has recently been suggested. Rather than allow

such a new state to be created I believe that China would invade and occupy Hong Kong. For Taivan to do so would be a much more difficult task, but not impossible given real support among the masses of H.K. But I doubt I put it no higher that such support would be forthcoming, and I conclude that a third China

/solutica

·

DRAFT

-11-

No. Drafted by-

Typed by--

IN ...-` --.......

Ten paper.

1

x

alkiugh 4K is increasingly paying for

it's ovom commercial promotion the U.K

U.KI

By termed commercial rotations

solution does not nerit further consideration.

The issues facier Z.M.G.

I consider the following points would

Choice)

13.

affect H.H.G.'s

open to it:

exice of

of the various possibilities

(a) The .. at present gains only

marginal economic advantage from the

existence of Hong Kong in terms of

trade; ita total exports to the

Colony are of the order of £65

million; and comprise at present

about 10% of the Colony's imports

though a more vigorous policy by

British firas could increase this;

' against this it buys about £80 million

of goods from the Colony;

(b) politically H.X. 13 a continuing

#

"colonial commitment in a world widel

will probably soon seu an end of

colonies; this spoils the U.K.'s

image as a decolonising power;

(c) H.K.'s industrial expansion is a

positive danger to the U,K,'s own

production in the textile and in

certain industrial fields even though

these imports contribute to a Lower

cost of living in U.K.;

(a) the very dynamism of H.K.'s expansion

poses real commercial problems to the

U.K; witch must seek in some small

measure at least to help to promote Hong Kong's products even where these compete with the U.5.'s; A

dave, hovenant, work, kat Valked |Malustaja mamma mojouts;

0001710

ALF. 174

File No.

Drafted by- Typed by-

there may be run from (within certain limits) for

<- to dolları

a variety of pour proers, but they may not be transferred

goza, cam is -repeniest members Butte sterling area, hedge against starting Fevaluation; if Britai leak contest of H.K she might houve

to agree to Convertibility of HK's

balances

if

H-K's commy earionily ram down for any rearth HK's balances would be

run a row at a

copt

to Britain's balace of

DRAFT

-12-

(e) H.K. teen_open_crar"-ecumscent

in terms of sterl

sterling

Egg-balance of

pegnatan-ninee de hac a free exchange

market;hat it is a net Collar earner

for the sterling area;

(f) H.K. provides the U.E. with a source

of substantial invisible earnings;

there arise from insurance, banking,

aircraft routes and shipping; #shipping) (cachings moved

شيدي

Batter alone baye recently beca

estimated to be running at about

£7.4 million per annum;

I from

(g) H.K. Government and private investments

in sterling in U.K. amount to about

£350 million; which if withëramm und

reinvested elscmicre_could_cause

Britain-signisicent-difficulties;

(h) H.K. contains nearly four million

people of whom a substantial porcent-

age are conscious escapees from

Communian those future would, to say

the least, be compromised by

retrocession of the territory and whose

handing over to Communist rule would

cause an outery, since it is zoɛt

unlikely that safeguards for them

could be obtained;

payments.

SECRE

L

/(1)

P

0001740 +

174

DRAFT

-124-

File No.

Drafted by- Typed by-

sime

it is

metal

+

wwww likely

that H.K.

would Rotain

mosociated stated;

1

impossibility of

anvisaging

transfer of population from HK to Britain in moer that their future may be onfeguarded

of the

strangeor

(1) if the U.K. enters the European

Common Karket in the early 1970's

it would undoubtedly have the effect

of further limiting H.K.'s ties with

Britain

(J) despite the relative economie

unimportance to the U.X. of Hong

Kong under Britain's tutelage, F.K.

has achieved something of an economic

wiracle which starãs to the crcdit of

free enterprice and which H.X.G.

would not wish to see throw away to

the detriment of H.K.'s people, or

of the free world in its struggle

with totalitarianism;

(k) withåraval from H‚Ž., or at least

an undignified scuttle, would diminish

the U.K.'s cstige and possibly

affect seriously trade with other

nations in S.2. Asia and the Far

East;

(l) 125 years of British runde inis created

es citizens of Hong Kong who are witho Strictly Chiriace now British; to itäma Whether Caniness of race, non-

mixed race or naturalis Britain retains

for

•prasibility sovereignty

craking tatay accommodation with

Juinas.

Ꮩ .

SECRET

Chamina

торною

if the wave to abando

H.K.; the Virtual

/Alicough

4

.F. 174

-

DRAFT

-13-

ile No.

Drafted by- Typed by-

Also an interest free loan of

₤3 millim pranmer for

at there have

the airport, beer capital grants of over £500,000 for hingnew There is also ₤lmithin fore the Housing Com Argaming from cos as some the and of the

ktalled about Él me the in

amgame sim 1946.

wilt the

This compares very

отторска favourably, from HEUK. print of view, large grants and Trama to the repondent m Comment formidories cominated in 1967 to

Demont ₤250 milein

Although from the conomic, and possibly political,

point of view there does not seen to be exy selfish

reason: why II.E.G. should wish to retain control

of Hong Kong, there remain very compelling porch

reasons why H.H.G. should sook to achilove one of - (ક) the compromises set out in paragrapì. 10(a)

above.

| 14.

It would be unprofitable at this stage

to decide how much H.M.G. might be asked to

contribute towards enabling E.K. to retain the

status quo or indeed to assess how much China

would want in the way of rent to agree to the

conversion of cessions into leases and vh

they would consider a fair ront for the Kev

Territories. At present the annual cost to

Britse Gost

Hakim kisiä, might be assessed at £12 million.

includes

This idea the (part) cost of maintaining

(about₤s)

a garrison (H.K. pays Emillion per Joer), Witte

contributions

K

Lägrenka and the cost of

{

A

maintaining representation here. There havo

seldom in H.K.'s life been direct budgetary

support grants If a satisfactory negotiation

with China should take place one would hope that

only a police force would thereaftor be needed,

plus a small armod gendarmerie to patrol the

border and to reinforce the police where

necessary. This would fall to be paid by the

But given the moral proli

H.K. Government.

H.K.G. might be willing for a satisfactory bu

/term

E

+

P

0001740

6.7. 194

DRAFT

-14

• No.

Drafted by:

Typed by-

J

ith Matting

probiome, for an maple,

L

has been willing to

provide jour quarters financial moistenca

+

H.S.

1

HMG

mjoyed.

т

term solution to pay to the H.K. Government as a

contribution towards rent to China plus military

support costs a somewhat larger sun than she pays

today, but pehaps on a tapering off basis.

15.

But the possibility of such a solution

depends entirely upon the willingness of the

Government of China to negotiato. Unless therefore

a new situation arises in China in which the

Government of that country expresses a desire to

negotiate, or H.M.G. have some inducement to cater

to China which today I am unable to sue, thon

Britain will have to make up its mind that the

conclusion of the lease of the New Territories

means the end of Hong Kong as a Grown Colony

and that steps must be taken to divest herself

of the ceded territories also. An important

facet of any such scheme must be that China wil

have to obtain official representation in the

Colony.

ד

This was a demand or which much was heard

in the past, but China seems to have decided that

it was illogical to be pressing on the one hand

for consular representation while on the other

stressing that H.K. remained part of China.

Nevertheless if there is to be any possibility of

a non-chaotic handover of responsibility to China

it is essential that there should be an official

representative in H.K. to whom the Byiti sh

authorities can speak. In that case the following

possibilities seem to present themsolves:-

E

SECRET

/(a)

+

0001743

4.F. 174

DRAFT

-15-

File No...... Drafted by- Typed by-

16.

J

27

(a) Britain should invite China to agree

to a condominium of 1.5. for limited period either immediately

preceding 1997 or carlier at the conclusion of which sovereignty

should revert to China.

(b) Britain should invite China to

participate in the governing of H.3.,

but under a ncutral Governor from an agreed third party state. Again

at the conclusion of such a period

sovereignty should pass to Chinu.

(c) Provided that China (Peking) had by

that time acquired her seat in the U.N., the U.N. should be invited to take on the responsibility for providing the neutral Governor suggested in (b) above.

(a) Subject to the same proviso; the U.N. should be invited to accept

full responsibility for H.K, either for a limited period after which Ching would resume sovereignty ca for an indefinite period with no indication as to the future of the

territory except that the inhabitants

should be free to decide it for

themselves.

An essential feature of all the schemes

listed in the preceding paragraphs would be that

/decisions

STO

0001740

174

DRAFT

-16-

г

Te No.

Drafted by-

| Typed by-

All

Z Ordim rides

سات

25 yours

but fuit

اوانه حماية مساه

+

ivery to fromclusi

beyond him we of

hi N.T. base alt,

العاشر اسلامي

it in pusponat tä

ن اساسه

for 20 years only.

decisions should be made sufficiently far in

advance of the critical date of 1997 for the

economy of the Colony not to have run down

disastrously. It will, for example, be necessary

very soon to take important decisions in relation

to franchises such as for telephones. The

H.K. Telephone Company's franchise runs out in

It seems unrealistic to consider an

extension for more than 20 years at the outside,

S

1975.

is

but the Company may not be willing to accept

the proining in 1995 will be imjonasian Aike this without firm guarantees from Government which

frutes/by the clear, the latter can hardly give. But equally.

ang panas rakk

Government could not possibly afford to buy out the Telephone Company. This situation obtains in

respect of other public utilities too and there

will also be the problem of ordinary am...

which are of many kinds, some in the ceded

territory being for 999 years. Unless therefore

decisions are made at a relatively carly date,

+

possibly the mid-1970s, confidence in the future

of the Colony may have ebbed to such an extent

that H.K.G. would not really be faced with a

choice between a series of possibilities, but

only with a decision that to get out without

delay in an undignified scuffle was the only

possible solution likely to commend itself to

Parliament. With this in mind if the internal

situation in China should resolve itself at

any moment in the next ten years in favour of a

government of pragmatists, to whom the maintenance

+

SEC

/02

6061740

F. 174

DRAFT

-17-

le No.

Drafted by-

Typed by-

i

of Hong Kong as a viable entity was a matter of real interest, the quicker an approach is made to them the better. In such circumstances every

effort should be made to obtain a solution which

if it must be limited in time should at least in

theory last for another 99 years.

17.

Assuming however that there a pears po

be no likelihood of any Chinese Government in power coming to an accommodation with H.E.G., but at the same time they seem willing to permit the precent arrangement to run on till the end of the ow

Territories lease, it would be essential no later than 1980 and possibly in the mid-1970s to bugia making plans for the transfer of sovereignty over H.K. to China in which case any of the possibilities listed at paragraph 15(a) to (a) could be tried out to ensure an ordered tranfes

of responsibility which must be H.W.G.'s vital

concern.

Conclusion.

18.

1

From the above study it is apparent that there are a variety of possible courses of action open to H.M.G. and the H.K. Government, some ot least of which give the possibility of the

continued existence of H.K. in the state in

which we know it today. Whether or not such a solution is feasible depends almost entirely on the Chinese Government, and the shape of

depends upon the outcome of the Cultu...

Revolution.

The equation thus has too many

+

ז

SEC

/unknowns

I

I

4.F. 174

DRAFT

-18-

File No..

cited by Typed by-

unknowns for a solution to be attempted today. What is required is that the options should be set out. Then in the light of developments in China it should be currently assessed which of the apparent options is obtainable. When devoloraents seem favourable, then there must be no hesitation in seeking a solution with despatch. Second chances may never récur.

19.

The most important feature of the prescat time is that the problem of H.K. is coming fully under discussion for perhaps the first time. Until now there has been an unwillingness to discuss the options for fear of wrecking Colony confidence. The Chinese themselves have made

that confidence a tender plant; now is the time

+

fully to assess the opiions and go all cut for

and when

a solution as the opportunity offers.

SECT

Ed (4206)

Reference

FDI 3 95 FD1/3

See Annex.

(96)

97

98

See

32 /1/

Colis 32

SECRET

F/S SECRET

AUE (POL) 6197

ATT.

R IVED IN

VAS No.31

RE

-.0V 1967

FD113

12th September, 1967

HONG KONG

You may recall that following the receipt of GERCOS 98 from the Co-mander in Chiof Far Mast of th July about paychological opera- tions and co-ordination of propaganda activity generally in Hong Kong there was some discussion between Departments about what should be done. A Working Group was cet up but I think the only meeting it held was one on 17th July.

2. So far as the military side is concerned the Staff Officer leaves on 18th September. It would be very helpful if you could let us know what is happening on the civil side, and what arrangements are being made in Hong Kong, not least because we shall have to talk to the Commander in Chief Far East about it when he returns home in the near future.

3.

I have sent a copy of this to Richard Sykes in the Foreign Office.

M. Bollano - Did

Joe

from your Dex's go to the (8. COOPER)

Working Groux ? /bidir!

9. P. Hall, Esq Commonwealth Office

SECRET

of Denm

Them was the

you allücht

mely

RAJ Ibelin. Fremmell

تسليك

14.1X we can leave a

`ryly fall.

Ed (4206)

MMBULL, AND

44

Reference

FD1/3. (W.94 D1/3

-

Comparative Covering Secret

Етор

Hong Kong Working Emrp

Mr. Compu's letter of 12 September

I attended the meeting, so did

Mr. Gammaria. I agree Mar Mr. Hall

сти

Ел Н.А.

be left to repin.

dom Denson

thanks.

day tha

27 IK

Ed (4206)

FD1/3

Reference..

9.3

SEE ANNEX

E4 (4206)

FD 1/3.

Reference...

192

SEE ANNEX

RECEIV ARCHIV

RESTRICTED

1900F

But

Mr. R.A Sykes Gy

FDIB

(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HER BRITANNIC MLJESTY'S GOVERNMENT

OPDO(DR.)(67) 39th Neeting

COPY NO.

CABINET

DEFENCE AND OVERSE. POLICY (OFFICIAL COMMITTEE)

DEFENCE REVIEW WORKING PARTY

MEETING to be held in Conference Room 'B',

Cabinet Office, Whitehall, S.7.1., on MONDAY, 11th SEPTEMBER 1967 at 10.30 8.4.

AGENDUM:

HONG KONG CONTINGENCY PLANNING

Previous Reference: ÚPDO(DR)(67) 35th Meeting Minutes, Iten 1)

Memorandum by the Treasury

(OPDO(DR)(67) 54 - already circulated)

Memorandum by the Commonwealth office

(OPDO(DR)(67) 56 to be circulated)

Cabinet Office, S.V.1.

(Signed) N.C.C. TRENCH

J.R. STEPHENS

7th September 1966

Hr. E. Healen. Bank of England, is invited to attend

De

Ed (4206)

FD1/3

Reference..

Szz

ANNEX.

CONFIDENTIAL

کے

RA

Syk 39

89

(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HER FRILANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT)

RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES No.31

19 OCT 1967

FD1|3.

1

COPY NO.

CABINET

DEFENCE AND OVERSEA POLICY (OFFICIAL) COMMITTEE

DEFENCE REVIEW WORKING PARTY

CORRIGENDY., TO

(c) 165/5(67) 2nd MEETING MINUTES

Page 1, paragraph 2, line 10

Delete:

"Shanghai/Hong Kong Bank."

Substitute: "Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank.

Page 3

Delete: Conclusion■ ?

Substitute:

"The Working Party took note that the Chairman would arrange for a report to be drafted on the Hines indicated in his summing up.

Cabinet Office, S.1.1.

18th July 1967

CONFIDENTIAL

12

IM

Ed (4206)

FR1/3

Reference..

...

Szz ANNEX

88

L

Ed (4206)

FD1|3

Reference.....

82

SEE ANNEX.

LIIILI

Ed (4206)

FR1|3

Reference.

186

ZE ANNEX

EA (4206)

FR: 3.

D

Reference....

85

SEE ANNEX

Flags A & B

Flag C

kur. de la

de Anre

CONFIDENTIAL Covering SECRET

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.3!

1967

¡ARC)

1

F

To be returned within 11 days to Room 124, K.G. St.

MAY BE DESTI OLED AFTER THAT 1745

NOT TO BE DESTROYED

BEFORE CONSULTATION V.ITH DEPARTMENT.

French Recerta on Events in China

F013/8/8

524/3/13

The two attached telegrams from Paris (Nos. 916 and 917)

give a very interesting account of French views on what is

happening in China. They are of particular interest since the

French now have access to information, such as Red Guard posters

and newspapers, which is denied to us. It remains true,

however, that all information from Red Guard sources must be

treated with a certain amount of caution.

2. The French views expressed in these telegrams are very

much in line with our own thinking. It seems clear that Chou

En-lai continues to play an important and, to some extent..

moderating role.

Chou has recently called for a

moderation of communist tactics in the Colony. There is no

reason to believe that Chou En-lai is particularly well dis-

posed towarda Britain or Hong Kong but it does seem likely that

he, and others whose main concern is with the administration

and economy of China, realise that the present extremist policies

can only harm China and therefore try whenever possible to

moderate their effects. If this is so, we must I suggest be

particularly careful in our own policy, both in Hong Kong and

towards China herself, to act so as to encourage such moderating

influences as exist and to provide the minimum amount of

. THIS IS A COPY

/opportunities

THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN RÉTAINED

IN THE DEPARTMENT UNDER SECTION

COME TO ANTICA DEINE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT 1988

1

+

CONFIDENTIAL Covering SECRET

- 2 -

opportunities for the extremists to take the lead.

3.

Since we ourselves now receive very little information

from Peking about internal events in China, we might, in

thanking our Embassy in Paris for their telegrams, ask them

to make the best possible use of their contacts with the

French to obtain more. We should also repeat these two

telegrams to Hong Kong, Singapore and Washington, but tell

them to protect the source.

Draft telegram submitted.

Bolles

SIL

Bolland)

1

15 September, 1967

Tel to issue. Telegram

M. Rodger. Musialg

We spoke

Felyran despatiful.

Corr

sproke this afternoon.

THIS IS A COPY

THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN RETAINED

IN THE DEPARTMENT UNDER SECTION

3 (4) OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT 1998

My inclinating

would ch amily be i believe his statiment

cham

That Chon in lai reads l'ime noti

"

as a politi

no weaknes in the Birtish

la silmed

ultimatum in plzing, paition" The einfaces, we wen you that the note may be having an effect and that it would be com initiation has raised

vanced

L

wrong

to anume that

است

a.f.de in man

Р

COM: STUENTIAL

CONTUENTIAL Covering UBCHET

15.9.

Ed (1426)

!

1

1

Reference...

83

FD1/3

SEE ANNEX

Ed (1626)

Reference.

82

KAKA SA PHI--------------T.CHELLEL FILILIJK.

H

I

FOL 13

t

SEE ANNEY

!

FA1/3

SEE ANNEX

Reference...

৪%

I

心噹

Ed (1426)

!

:

!

I

RESTRICTED

Minister of State (Mr. Fred Mulley) Not to be entered

(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE FROPERTY OF HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT

80

K(67) 2nd Meeting

1.

2.

CABINET

MINISTERII COMITTNE ON HONG KONG

13

COPY NO.

MEETING to be held in Conference Room 'A' Cabinet Office, Whitehall, S..1, on FRIDAY, 22nd SEPTEMBER 1967 at 10.30 a. 11.

REVISED AGENDA:

RECEJ IN

0.31 ARCHIV

26 SEP 1967

FD1/3

ASSISTANCE TU HONG KONG

Menorandum by the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs

(K(67) 3 to be circulated)

-

CONTINGENCY PLANNING

Previous Reference: K(67) 1st Meeting Minutes)

Note by the Secretaries

(K(67) 5 - to be circulated)

(Signed) HL. LAMÄENCE-"ILSO,

R. L. L. FACER

Cabinet Office, S.4.1.

21st September 1967

ра

RESTRICTED

see

$1

3d (1626)

;

Reference.....

2%

ad W 29

FD1/3

SEE ANNEX

Bd (1635)

Reference.

FOL/3

SEE ANNEX

78

17

Permanent Under-Secretar✦

jAR

·IVEDOWN. VES NO 31

1 S SEP 1967

FD13 (60

Please refer to your minute of 31 July

(Flag A). I raised the matter with the

Commonwealth Office, whose responsibility

technically it would seem to be.

Following

GI

62

ра

this, Sir Saville Garner wrote to Sir Denis

Allen on 18 August (Flag B). Sir Denis Allen's

letter of 30 August to Sir Saville Garner

(Flag C) sets out a suggested form of words

to deal with press enquiries should there be

a leak.

Drgreentuell

(Denis Greenhill) 12 September, 1967

Markgon

риск

F.E. Rez

RESTRICTED

6

(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S ÇAVERDEENT)

OPDC(18)(67) 39th Meeting

IVED IN

A

CHOYES No. 30

115EP1967

EDIT

CABINET

COPY NO.

13

DEFENCE AND OVERSEA POLICY (OFFICIAL COMMITTEE)

DEFENCE REVIEW YORKING PARTY

MEETING to be held in Conference Room B',

Cabinet Office, Whitehall, S.ï.l., on HONDAY, 11th SEPTEMBER 1967 at 10.30 a.".

AGENDUM:

HONG KONG CONTINGNICY PLANING

Previous Reference: OPDO(DR)(67) 35th Keeting Minutos, Iten 1)

Kemorandum by the Treasury

(OPDO(DR)(67) 54

-

already circulated)

Hemorandum by the Commonwealth Office

(CPDO(DR)(67) 56 to be circulated)

Cabinet Office, S.W.1.

7th September 1966

(Signed) N.C.C. TRENCH

J.R. STEPHENS

Hr. E. Haslan, Bank of England, is invited to attend

pake

RESTRICTED

RESTRICTED

75

HIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HER BRITANIC KAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT)

UPDO(DR)(67) 37th Meeting

CABINGT

64

COPY NO.

EIVED IN ARCHAHIYES. NB! 1 1 SESER6967

DEFENCE AND OVERSEA POLICY (OFFICIAL) COMMITTEE

DEFENCE REVIEW WORKING PARTY

1

MEETING to be held in Conference Room 'B', Cabinet Office, Whitehall, S..1 on FRIDAY, 8th SEPTEMBER 1967 at 10.30. a.m.

SECOND REVISED AGENDUM:*

NUCLEAR POLICY

Consideration of Preliminary Draft Paper

(Signed) N.C.C. TRENCH

J.R. STEPHENS

Х

Cabinet Office, S.7.1.

7th September 1967

Please note this replaces the Agenda on Hong Kong which is

now being taken on Monday, 11th September at 10.30 a.m.

RESTRICTED

·

:X

Ed (1626)

Reference

74

Sce Anneye.

SECRET

73 Entr

THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROFERRECHER ARIENNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNÁ

ARCHIVES NG: B1

1 1 SEPIDE

OPDO(DR)(67) 36th ¡beting

COPY NO. 11

CABINET

DEFENCE AND OVERSEA POLICY (OFFICIAL) COLLIRTEE

DEFENCE REVIEW WORKING PARTY

KINUTES of a Neoting of the Working Party held in Conference Room 'B', Cabinet Office, S.W.1, 14 on WEDNESDAY, 5th SEPTEMBER 1967 at 2.30 p.m.

¡ir. R.A. Sykes,

Foreign Office

PRESENT:

Ifr. P. Rogers,

Cabinet Office (In the Chair)

Group Captain W. Kent Ministry of Defence

Ir. E., Rose,

Cabinet Office

Ir. P. cholls,

Treasury

Kr. 7.S. Carter

THE FOLLOWING WERE ALSO FRESENT:

Commonwealth Office

Mr. E. Bolland,

Foreign Office

ir. P. Cooper,

4

Ministry of Defence

SECRETARY:

ifr. N.C.C. Tronch

SUBJECT

HONG KONG

SECRET

FOG KUNG

SECRET

SECRET

THE CHAIRMAN said that he had called the meeting to enable him to convey to members of the Working Party the general sense of the discussion on our relations with China on 5th September in the Defence and Oversea Folicy Committee. Hinisters recognised the conflicting factors which must govern policy vis-a-vis China and Hong Kong on the one hand, the need not to prejudice the position of the office of the British Charge d'Affaires in Peking, and on the other, the necessity for showing firmness and maintaining control in Hong Kong. To do this, the situation needed to be kept under constant and careful review. Everything necessary must be done to hold the situation in Hong Kong, but possible repercussions on our staff in Peking and their dependants must be borne in mind. This feeling amongst Ministers did not mean that every decision need be put up to the Committee. On the contrary, it should normally be possible to settle most problems bilaterally between the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office, after consultation with the Ministry of Defense as appropriate, and subject to referance to the Ministers in charge of those Departments on all issues of particular

political delicacy.

In discussion, it emerged that there was no conflict between the Departments concerned about the desirability of preserving a balance, so far as possible, between the two factors involved. So far as procedure was concerned, it seemed inevitable that Ministers would shortly have to be consulted again, both about action against the Press in Hong Kong and about the possible need to prescribe the death penalty for carrying bombs.

As regards reinforcing the garrison of Hong Kong for the Chinese New Year, the Committee were informed that the Ministers had not taken a decision at their meeting on whether reinforcements were to be sent before trouble started, or only in the event of trouble arising, but had instruoted that this be further considered as a matter of urgency. The present position was that one extra battalion was already in Hong Kong and that the Commandor- in-Chief, Far East, wished it to stay there until after 10th October. He had been asked whether he wanted further reinforcements and his reply was

awaited. The view was expressed that there might be political advantage in having an extra unit in the Colony before the period when trouble vas

-1-

SECRET

SECRET

likely to arise both in order to demonstrate our determination to act firmly and so that there would be no delay in bringing in reinforcements if trouble arose, thus permitting their further exacerbation. One possible solution,

if any units in Hong Kong were due for relief, might be to bring the ralioving unit into Hong Kong before the out-going one loft.so that both were present over the period of Chinese celebrations in October.

Summing up the discussion, THE CHALUMAN recalled that Hinisters had boon inclined to feel that prevention was botter than oure. The Ministry of Defence should consult the Foreign Office and Commonwealth Office when the Commander-in-Chief's reply had been received and should keep tho

Treasury informed of developments.

The Working Party

Invited the Ministry of Defence to concert with the Common::ealth Office and Foreign Office action on the possible reinforcement of the Hong Kong garrison, and to keep the Treasury informed.

Cabinet Office, 8.7.1.

7th September 1967

-2-

SECRET

RESTRICTED

72

RECEIVEDIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT)

HIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HERECEIVEDJS

ARCHIVES KO

13

COPY NO.

OPn(DR )

OPD DR)(67) 36th Meeting

DDR) (6

1/1/SE#A9487

GABI OD 1) 1/3

ENT

DEFENCE AND OVERSEA POLICY (OFFICIAL) COMMITTEE

DEFENCE REVIEW WORKING PARTY

MEETING to be held in Conference Room 'B', Cabinet Office, Whitehall, S.W.1., on WEDNESDAY, 6th SEPTEMBER 1967 at 2.30 p.m.

HONG KONG

AGENDUM:

(i) Measures to be taken in Hong Kong

To be raised orally

рако

(ii) Possible Reinforcements for the Chinese New Year

To be raised orally

(Signed) N.C.C. TRENCH

J.R. STEPHENS

Cabinet Office, S.W.1.

5th September 1967

*Please note this Meeting is in addition to those already arranged for Friday, 8th September 1967 which now become the 37th and 38th Meetings.

RESTRICTED

BJ (1626)

Reference.....

H

FD1/3

SEE ANNEXE.

Ed (6

Reference....

70

F) 1/3.

к

See Аннехе

SEE

(17795)

RESTRICTED

69

RECEIVEDIAN

(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTAR CHINES BRIAN NIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT)

111 SEPIA6/

PDO(DR)(67) 36th Meeting

ED1/3.

COPY NO.13

CABINET

DEFENCE AND OVERSEA POLICY (OFFICIAL) COMMITTEE

DEFENCE REVIEW WORKING PARTY

MEETING to be held in Conference Room 'B', Cabinet Office, Whitehall, S.7.1., on FRIDAY, 8th SEPTEMBER 1967 at 10.30 a.n.

REVISED AGENDUM

HONG KONG CONTINGENCY PLANNING

(Previous Reference: OPDO (DR)(67) 35th Meeting Minutes, Item: 1)

Memorandum by the Treasury

(OPDO(DR)(67) 54 - already circulated)

Memorandun by the Commonwealth Office

(OPDO(DR)(67) 56 - to be circulated)

Cabinet Office, S.F.1.

(Signed) J.R. STEPHENS

4th September 1967

Hr. E. Haslan, Bank of England, is invited to attend.

RESTRICTED

(97795,

RESTRICTED

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES Në, 31] 11 SEP 1967

68

(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT)

EDIB

OFDO(DR)(67) 36th Keeting

13

COPY NO.

CABINET

DEFENCE AND OVERSEA POLICY (OFFICIAL) COMMITTEE

DEFENCE REVIEY WORKING PARTY

MEETING to be held in Conference Room 'B', Cabinet Office, Whitehall, S.W.l., on FRIDAY, 8th SEPTEMBER 1967 at 10.30 a.m.

AGENDUM :

HONG KONG CONTINGENCY PLANNING

(Previous Reference: OPDO (DR)(67) 35th Mooting Minutes, Item 1)

Memorandum by the Treasury

(OPDO (DR) (67) 54 already circulated) (OPDO(DR)(67)

Kenorandum by the Commonwealth Office

(OPDO (DR) (67) 56 to be circulated)

-

(Signed) R.L.L. FACER

J.R. STEPHENS

Cabinet Office, S.W.1.

1st September 1967

RESTRICTED

Bd (16261

Reference

F)

де Аннехе.

SEE

Ed (1625)

+

Reference.......

FD 1/3

SEE

ANN EXE

Ed (1426)

:

Reference

دارد

65

---

SEE ANNEXE.

SECRET

64)

(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT)

RACEIVED IN

ARCHIVES BID (B)(67) 35th Moeti

11SEPH

pe Rihlater no. 13

NO.

CABINET

53A#

**N SZAIHOA

NI OBARORS

DEFENCE AND OVERSEA POLICY (OFFICIAL) COMMITTEE

DEFENCE REVIEW WORKING PARTY

MROTING to be held in Conference Roon 'B', Cabinet Office, Whitehall, S.W.1.,

on TUESDY. 22nd AUGUST 1967 at 10.30 a.z.

REVISED AGENDA:

1.

HONG KONG:

DMMEDIATE STUDY

(Previous Reference:

C165/5(67) 3rd Meeting Minutes)

To be raised orally

2.

HONG KONG: LONG-TERM STUDY

(Previous Reference:

0165/5(67) 3rd Meeting Minutes)

Note by the Commonwealth Office

(OFDO(DR)(67) 52 to be aroulated)

-

OPDO(IR)(67) 51 is relevant?

3.

HONG KONG: SIZE OF GARRISON

To be raised orally by the Ministry of Defence

(Signed) R.L.L. FACER

M.J. MORIARTY

Cabinet Office, S.M.1.

17th August 1967

The Board of Trude are invited to be represented

SECRET

Bd (1626)

*

Reference.

FD 1/3

SEE ANNEX

(63)

B4 (1626)

-

I

!

-

Reference.

62

EDITS

SEE ANNEX

B4 (1626)

Reference-mnar-

A++

FD1/3

SEE ANNEX

கு

Ed (1426)

Reference........

UNG-UN -agga ma +24H WITH

60

いろ

SEE ANNEX

set

59

Reference...

L

וידיו------

-----וי-ד

|

|

1

FO 1/3

See ANNEX

:

|

1

|

!

BJ (1426)

Ed (1636)

I

I

FO

Reference....

-

1/3

58

SEE ANNEX

Bd (1626)

Reference

รา

FD1/3 (57

See ANNEX.

Ed (1626)

I

Reference FD1/356)

FD1/3

See ANNEX.

BA (1676)

K

Reference

1/3

55

SEE ANNEX

Ed (1626)

Reference

FD 1/3

54

SEE ANNEX

Ed (1626)

Reference

53

----------------------PI

FD 1/3

See ANNEX

Bd (1626)

:

H

:

Reference

PILI

----------

52

FO 1/3

See ANNEX

Bd (1626)

I

|

1

!

i

Reference.....

عل

FD 1/3

тех

SEE ANNEX

Ра

з

SEE ANNEX

50

------

--------

TOU

--➖➖➖ ➖➖ ------ P..................

Reference

|

:

(990 pa

CONFIDENTIAL

P·w (49)

(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HER FRITANNIC HAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT)

RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES No.31

-3 AUG 1967

14

COPY NO.

FD1/3

CABINET

DEFENCE AND OVERSEA POLICY (OFFICIAL) COMITTEE

DEFENCE REVIEW WORKING PARTY

CORRIGENTA, TO

(c) 165/5(67) 2nd MEETING MINUTES

Page 1., paragraph 2, line 10

Delete:

"Shanghai/Hong Kong Bank."

Substitute: "Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank,"

Page 3

Delete: Conclusions

Substitute:

"The Working Party took note that the Chairman would arrange for a report to be drafted on the lines indicated in his suruding up.

Cabinet Office, S.V.1.

18th July 1967

CONFIDENTIAL

هر

palad to

Ed (1426)

Reference....

---------

48

FD 1/3

SEE ANNEX

[

Ed 11636)

|

:

|

I

Reference

FD1/

42

SEE ANNEX

FD1/3

SEE ANNEX

(9+21

---

Reference.

I

+

|

!

:

!

|

I

(9691) PE

Bd (1636)

Reference

701/3

45

SEE ANNEX

SECRET

Ent(44)

Mr. de lal Køre 21/1

Es 247.

Mr. Bollend

I RECEIVED 13 ARCHIVES NË, 3!

2 JUL 1967

FD1/3

At a meeting of the Defence Review Working Party this

morning, Mr. Cooper of the Ministry of Defence told those of

us who were concerned with Hong Kong that Mr. Stoddart

of the United States Embassy had asked to see him urgently

about Hong Kong, and in response Mr. Cooper had seen him at

9.30 this morning.

2. Mr. Stoddart said that the State Department were very

worried about Hong Kong. He did not give any specific

reasons, even when asked, for the State Department's agitation,

but asked Mr. Cooper how he saw the position.

giving

Mr. Cooper

gave a fairly guarded description of the situation as we saw

it, broadly along the lines of the paper which is being prepared by the Working Party, in particular, our view that at the present time any negotiation with the Chinese was out

of the question; that we were playing this in a fairly low

key and considered that we had the internal security situation

reasonably under control; but that if the Chinese really

decided to push us out, then Hong Kong was militarily

indefensible.

3.

Mr. Stoddart said that the description which

Mr. Cooper had given him was much the same as the reports they had been receiving in the Embassy, both from the State

He added that the Russians Department and Hong Kong. had recently told him that no kind of meaningful negotiation

with the Chinese was possible at the present time.

SECRET

/Mr. Cooper

SECRET

- 2-

(Mr. Cooper did not elaborate on this, nor, apparently,

did Mr. Stoddart).

information.

He was grateful for Mr. Cooper's

ls. It was agreed that the members of the Working Party

who were present would report this to their respective

Departments. It was suggested that should we wish to

consult the Americans, i.a. over the possibility of their

sending vessels to Hong Kong (one of the possibilities

mooted in the Working Party paper) Mr. Stoddart's approach

would give us a convenient lead in. The security diffi-

culties about extending the scope of any planning would

still seem to remain valid.

3 р.а.

SECRET

RA Syke

(R.A. Sykes) 21 July, 1967

25/7

RESTRICTED

43

(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT)

COPY NO. 12

12

CABINET

MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON HONG KONG

CORRIGENDUM

TO

K(67) 2

42

Page 3, Paragraph 9

Delete:

Substitute:

Third sentence

"For the time being we are also retaining for use

in Hong Kong two minesweepers which it was originally

intended to withdraw."

Cabinet Office, S.W.1.,

21st July 1967

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 31

27 JUL 1967

FD1/3

1977779)])]

RESTRICTED

Ed (1426)

!

|

I

Reference

5/100

----

42

SEE ANNEX

Ed 11676)

Reference

dict

---

21

See ANNEX

Bd (1426)

!

1

Reference....

FD1/3

SEE ANNEX

40

Ed (1626)

Reference

LIILI

39

FD 1/3

SEE ANNEX

CONFIDENTIAL

38

(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT)

c 165/5(67) 3rd Meeting

CABINET

14

COPY NO.

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 31

† 27 JUL 1967

Fe 1/3

DEFENCE AND OVERSEA POLICY (OFFICIAL) COMMITTEE

DEFENCE REVIEW WORKING PARTY

MEETING to be held in Conference Room 'A', Cabinet Office, Whitehall, S.W.1, on THURSDAY, 20th JULY 1967 at 4.00 p.m.

AGENDUM:

32

HONG KONG

(Previous Reference: C 165/5(67) 2nd Meeting Minutes)

Note by the Secretaries

(C 165/5(67) 2 to be circulated)

-

39

(Signed) R.L.L. FACER

M.J. MORIARTY

Cabinet Office, S.W.1.

19th July 1967

The following are invited to attend or to be represented:

Mr. E. Bolland, Foreign Office

Mr. W.S. Carter, Commonwealth Office Mr. M.S. Morris, Board of Trade

CONFIDENTIAL

84 (1625)

|

i

Reference..

37

FL1/3

SEE ANNEX

M

2

Mr. Bolland

SECRET

Hong Kong

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 31 27 JUL 1967

FD1/3

The Foreign Secretary held a meeting this morning to discuss the situation in Hong Kong. Those present included the Commonwealth

Secretary, Mrs. Hart and Sir Arthur Galsworthy; Mr. W. Rodgers, Sir Paul Gore-Booth,

Sir D. Greenhill, Mr. de la Mare and yourself; Sir D. White and other officials.

36

The

2. The Foreign Secretary opened the meeting by asking what was the aim of the Chinese in Hong Kong. Was Peking directing the disturbances? Was Peking even involved? The Commonwealth Secretary said that the local communists were directly responsible for the disturbances in Hong Kong and the recent frontier incident. It seemed likely that while Peking was giving full moral support to the Hong Kong communists they regarded them as conducting an operation of their own. The Commonwealth Secretary went on to analyse in detail the organisation of the communists in Hong Kong. The tougher measures now being taken by the Hong Kong authorities had raised the morale of the people in the Colony and seriously weakened that of the comunists. water situation was worrying but contingency plans were being made and, even if Chină did not turn on the taps on 1 October, we could manage until next year when the Plover Cove scheme would be in operation. Sir Dick White agreed generally with the Commonwealth Secretary. thought that Peking was encouraging the long-term build-up of a mass revolutionary movement in Hong Kon. They were not preparing for direct intervention. But in certain circumstances they might be prepared to intervene. Peking's ultimate aim was to create a Macao-type situation

Mrs. Hart pointed out that if in they could not control events in Hong Kong, the Peking Government might get out on a limb. One of the dangers was that the present disturbances

A Enti.

SECRET

paled27/7

He

/in Hong Kong

SECRET

in Hong Kong might produce consequences which no-one could predict.

3. In subsequent discussion it was pointed out that the situation in China was very fluid and it could not be ruled out that it might develop in a way favourable to our position in Hong Kong. If we held on we might eventually be able to negotiate our withdrawal. For example, if the influence of the central government were weakened the authorities in Kwantung might adopt more reasonable policies towards Hong Kong.

4. The Foreign Secretary then said that he understood that if we left Hong Kong the Chinese would lose £200 million in foreign exchange. He asked what we would lose.

Mrs. Hart replied that there would probably not be much difference between our gains and our losses. There was not a great deal of British investment in Hong Kong. But British banks had a big stake and Hong Kong provided facilities for intelligence activities. Sir Arthur Galsworthy pointed out that Hong Kong more or less paid for itself. The only charge on H.M.G. was the cost of our troops and Hong Kong was now contributing £5 million a year to this. He went on to say, however, that if Hong Kong's economy turned down the cost to us could be very severe. If foreigh demand for Hong Kong's exports fell there would be unemployment and the cost to the British Exchequer in relief would be formidable.

5. Sir Paul Gore-Booth said an important factor in the situation was the degree to which Peking could allow the local communists in Hong Kong to suffer a defeat. Peking might eventually decide to accept the loss of face involved in accepting a setback in Hong Kong and lay off for a year or two. Sir D. Greenhill said that on the other hand the Chinese Communist Party might need a success in 1967 as a counter to the play the Russians would make with the 50th anniversary of the Revolution. The kind of success they

/needed

SECRET

SECRET

needed might be creating a Macao-type situation in Hong Kong.

6. Mrs. Hart said that two points should be borne in mind. First, it would be foolish for us to base our plans for Hong Kong on optimistic assumptions. Secondly, we should recognise that as a result of disturbances over the past few months confidence in Hong Kong's economy was already declining. Unless the growth rate was maintained at about 8 per cent per annum the economy would decline and we should be faced with unemployment. Once this began the situation would deteriorate.

7. The Foreign Secretary said it seemed likely that October would be the danger point this year.

8. Mr. Bolland said that the Hong Kong Working Party had reached the provisional conclusion that if we had to decide between accepting a Macao-type situation and withdrawal we should choose the latter. Sir Arthur Galsworthy said that if it bacame known that we intended to withdraw the morale of the police would collapse. This ruled out withdrawal from Hong Kong over a long period. Hong Kong's relations with Peking had been at their best when there had been a strong Cuinese Government. The time to start to extricate ourselves would be when our relations with Peking improved.

9. The Foreign Secretary summed up by saying that it should be our aim to look for developments in China which would provide a convenient moment to withdraw from Hong Kong in good order. In present circumstances, however, we could not plan actively to do anything except to hang on.

c.c. P.S. to Commonwealth Secretary

==

H

Mrs. Hart

Mr. Rodgers P.U.S. (F.0.)

Sir A. Galsworthy Sir D. Greenhill (2) Mr. de la Mare

Mr. Carter (0.0.) Planning Staff

The

(D. J. D. Maitland) Private Secretary

19 July, 1967

SECRET

BA. (3746)

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Registry FD13

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secret.

Secret.

SECRET

DRAFT

minute

Type 1 +

To:-

+

W

Mr. Bolland

- Confidential.

Restricted.

Unclassified.

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

From

Mr. Maitland

Telephone No. & Ext.

Department

C.c. -1.P.S. to

Cuth Sany.

1. RS. A My Hot

3. 1.5. h

M: Rodger.

4. Pur, Fo. 5. SA Gadt.

wortung

6. Sú D.

Mr. Bolland frist, for

any dos.

or andtr.

(2),

Su 18

?

The local communistī

were directly responsible ffor the disturbances

in Hung Kany and the

Frontier incident,

7. M' de la Mars.

8. Mr Caster C.o.

Hong Kong

The Foreign Secretary held a

meeting this morning to discuss the

situation in Hong Kong. Those present

included the Commonwealth Secretary,

Mrs. Hart and Sir Arthur Galsworthy;

Mr. W. Rodgers, Sir Paul Gore-Booth,

Sir D. Greenhill, Mr. de la Mare

Sir D. White and other

and yourself;

officials.

2.

The Foreign Secretary opened the

meeting by asking what was the aim

of the Chinese in Hong Kong. Was

Peking directing the disturbances?

Was Peking even involved? The

Commonwealth Secretary said that. that

Here was no evidence that Peking wae directly involved and It seemed

likely that while Peking was giving

full moral support to the Hong Kong

/communists

SECRET

36

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

D4.003009 Gp.363

being taken by

SECRET

2 -

communists they regarded them as

conducting an operation of their

own. The Commonwealth Secretary

went on to analyse in detail the

organisation of the communists

The Hang Kany austinston in Hong Kong. Sir Dick White

had raised to morale

of the people in the

Colony and surously weak and NET of the Camananti. The matte siliki um

worrying but contingung

www being

unsch and, care if China did not live on

sta tape

we

could

an I Betbe,

standarding t

[next say year bown the floor Care Scheme would be in

operations.

agreed generally with the Commonwealth

Secretary.

WALL

He thought that Peking encourrying the long-tim build-up of was giving particular encouragement Tentationing movement in Hong King. They

to the communist trade unions with preparing for dives interventim. But in curéni ¿ view to building up a maas Circand tances they might be prepned to intuving.

при movement. Peking's ultimate aim was

to create a Macao-type situation

in Hong Kong. Mrs. Hart pointed

out that if they could not control

could

the

Govt

events in Hong Kong,[Peking/might

get out on a limb. One of the dangers

was that the present disturbances

in Hong Kong might produce

consequences which no-one could

predict.

3. In subsequent discussion it

was pointed out that the situation

in China was very fluid and it

could not be ruled out that it

might develop in a way favourable

to our position in Hong Kong. If

/we

SECRET

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Dd.033009 Gp.143

SECRET

3

we held out for the time being we

might eventually be able to

negotiate our withdrawal. For

example, if the influence of the

central government were weakened

the authorities in Kwantung might

adopt more reasonable policies

towards Hong Kong.

4.

The Foreign Secretary then

said that he understood that if

we left Hong Kong the Chinese

£200

would lose two hundred million

pounds in foreign exchange. He

asked what we would lose.

Mrs. Hart replied that there would

probably not be much difference

between our gains and our losses.

There was not a great deal of

British investment in Hong Kong. But

British banks had a big stake and

Hong Kong provided facilities for

intelligence activities. Sir

Arthur Galsworthy pointed out that

Hong Kong more or less paid for

itself. The only charge on H.M.G.

was the cost of our troops and

Hong Kong was now contributing

£5 million a year to this. He went

SECRET

/on

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

D4.633009 Gp.863

SECRET

-

4

on to say, however, that if Hong

Kong's economy turned down the

cost to us could be very severe.

If foreign demand for Hong Kong's

exports fell there would be

unemployment and the cost to the

British Exchequer in relief would

be formidable.

5. Sir Paul Gore-Booth said an

important factor in the situation

was the degree to which Peking

could allow the local communists

in Hong Kong to suffer a defeat.

Peking might eventually decide to

accept the loss of face involved in

A

accepting the setback in Hong.

Kong and lay off for a year or

two. Sir D. Greenhill said that

on the other hand the Chinese

Communist Party might need a

success in 1967 as a counter to the

play the Russians would make with

the 50th anniversary of the Soviet

Revolution. The kind of success

they needed might be creating

a Macao-type situation in Hong

Kong.

/6.

SECRET

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Dd.003809 Gp.$63

SECRET

5

6. Mrs. Hart said that two

points should be borne in mind.

First, it would be foolish for us

to base our plans for Hong Kong

on optimistic assumptions.

Secondly, we should recognise that

as a result of disturbances over the

past few months confidence in Hong

Kong's economy was already

declining. Unless the growth rate

about

was maintained at 8 per cent per

annum the economy would decline and

we should be faced with unemployment.

Once this began the situation

would deteriorate.

7. The Foreign Secretary said it

seemed likely that October would

be the danger point this year.

8.

Mr. Bolland said that the

Hong Kong Working Party had

reached the provisional conclusion

if

that/we had to decide between

A

accepting the Macao-type situation

and withdrawal we should choose the

latter.

Sir Arthur Galsworthy said

that if it became known that we

/intended

SECRET

DE81300 Gş,143

Hong Kay's relations with Peking had been

at that bell. Where

there had been the

wow in strany

Chim Garemment. The time

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

to start to extricate Ourselves would be Then our relations

with Peking improved.

SECRET

6

intended to withdraw the morale of

the police would collapse. This

ruled out withdrawal from Hong Kong

over a long period.

9.

The Foreign Secretary summed up

by saying that, it should be our

developments in China which with providkę aim to look förдa convenient

moment to withdraw from Hong Kong

in good order. In present

circumstances, however, we could

not plan actively to do anything

except to hang on.

་ ༣

SECRET

хамону 975

sliot

------

Ed (1426)

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN.

Minutes.

FD1/3

34

SEE ANNEX

RESTRICTED

33

(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT)

C 165/5 (67) 3rd Meeting

CABINET

COPY NO.

•14

DEFENCE AND OVERSEA POLICY (OFFICIAL) COMINTTEE

DEFENCE REVIEW WORKING PARTY

MEETING NOTICE

The next meeting will be held in Conference Room 'A',

Cabinet Office, Whitehall, S.W.1., on THURSDAY, 20th JULY

1967 at 4.00 p.m.

An Agenda Notice will be circulated later.

RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES No. 31

¡ 27 JUL 1967

FD/3

Cabinet Office, 3.W.1.

17th July 1967

38

(Signed) R.L.L. FACER

M.J. MORIARTY

RESTRICTED

Ed (1636)

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN.

L

ااس

Minutes.

SEE ANNEX

32

Ed (1626)

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN.

Minutes.

FD1/3

SEE ANNEX

31

CONFIDENTIAL

30

(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT )

C 165/5(67) 2nd Meeting

CABINET

14

COPY NO.

•V-D IN ENGGAMES (No. 31

27 Jul 1967

FD1/3

DEFENCE AND OVERSEA POLICY (OFFICIAL) COMMITTEE

DEFENCE REVIEW WORKING PARTY

MEETING to be held in Conference Room 'B', Cabinet Office, Whitehall, S.W.1, on MONDAY, 17th JULY 1967 at 2.30 p.m.

AGENDUM:

HONG KONG

Note by the Commonwealth Office

(C 165/5(67 1 to be circulated)

-

31

(Signed) R.L.L. FACER

[

M.J. MORIARTY

Cabinet Office, S.W.1.

13th July 1967

The following are invited to attend:

Mr. E. Bolland, Foreign Office Mr. W.S. Carter, Commonwealth Office Mr. M.S. Morris, Board of Trade

CONFIDENTIAL

I

RESTRICTED

į RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES No. 3i # 27 JUL 1967

FO 1/3

29

(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT)

C 165/5 (67) 2nd Meeting

COPY NO. 14

CABINET

DEFENCE AND OVERSEA POLICY (OFFICIAL) COMMITTEE

DEFENCE REVIEW WORKING PARTY

MEETING NOTICE

The next meeting will be held in Conference Room B*, Cabinet Office, Whitehall, S.W.1., on MONDAY, 17th JULY 1967

at 2.30 p..

An Agenda Notice will be circulated later.

30

Cabinet Office, S.W.1.

11th July 1967

(Signed) R.L.L. FACER

M.J. MORIARTY

RESTRICTED

CONFIDENTIAL

14.7.67.

نسا

With the compliments of

12

COMMONWEALTH OFFICE 7

Mr. W.S. Carter

гра сод OA

CEIVED IN {

ARCHIVES No.31

LONDON, S.V.1.

20 JUL 1967

..

E. Bolland Esq.,

FD!|3

Far Eastern Department,

Foreign Office,

Downing Street, S.7.1.

+

Forster

CONNE PEITIAL

Contos tor

Sir Arthur Galsworthy Mr. Godden

Mr. Bolland (7.0,)

Your minute of 12 July regarding the interview which the Secretary of State gave to Sir Albert Rodrigues on 10 July.

2. We have recently re-examined with the Foreign Office the question of making representations or protests to the Chinese Charge d'Affaires in London (paragraph 3 of your minuta); This was in response to a muɛrastion by Feking that our protests sight also be delivered in Londen where they would not be subject to the same delays as Mr. Hopson had experienced in Paking. Our conclusions are summarinod in paragraph 2 of 7.0, telegram Jo.604 to Peking which reads as followss-

"We asked you to contact the Minister of Foreign Affairs inmediately in order to ensure that the Chinees Central Authorities should be avere of the seriousness with which ve viewed theas incidents and to make it clear to them that EX.C, were fully behind the Hong Kong Government in dealing with them. Ve sextmed you would be able to couray the message quickly without, if necessary, waiting for a formal interview. Although we are, of course, ready to pass messages here, we are not able to speak to any high ranking Chinses an you may be able to do and consequently we can get no worthwhile de response or feel of the atmosphere as you clearly did, for example, en 9 July. Shạn Ping acte se s mere transmission belt and all we get from him is a recital of abusive X.Pak, statements and People's Daily articles. Furthermore, a message through Shen Ping will not reach the K.F.A, an quick as one through you. We think therefore that it is better if we can pass messages through you unless there is a particular reason fur making representations in London",

3.

I am sending a oggy of this minute and a copy of

yours to Mr. Bolland (Far Eastern Department of the Foreign Ofrios).

(V.S. Carter)

14.7.67.

COMPADEPTIIAL

KR. CARTER Curtis Green

(COPY)

CONFIDENTIAL

Copies to:

Sir A. Galsworthy Mr. Godden

Sir Albert Rodriques had a good talk with the Secretary of State on July 10th. The object of the visit, as you surmised, was to get some more positive statement about Hong Kong's future out of the Secretary of State. Sir Albert argued that the key to the situation was to retain business confidence and, more important, mass confidence. If people were continually told that the Chinese were going to come in anyhow some day and if they did not co-operate now they would be in trouble when the Chinese did arrive, eventually they would begin to reinsure. As far as the business people were concerned, there was not much movement of capital 28 yet, but a lot of them were thinking of moving to Taiwan.

It was important to keep reiterating in positive terms that the British meant to stay. The Secretary of State authorised Sir Albert to say, if he thought it necessary on his return, that he had had a talk with the Secretary of State who had authorised him to say that what Lord Beswick said in the House of Lords still represented H.K.G's policy.

2.

In a general discussion of the situation, Sir Albert said that the Chinese were looking for a paper victory. The Hong Kong Government had won the first two rounds and the Chinese had to find some way out of the impasse. They had been frustrated at every tum. What worried bin was the fact that a large number of "bad hats" were now out of work and ready to make trouble. He thought that the deportation of four or five of the top leaders at the right moment was probably the best next move. The Communiste had good organisation but not much in the way of experienced leadership. If the deportees refused to cross the border or the Chinese refused to acoapt them, this would be a considerable propaganda victory

for the Government. Otherwise, morale was terrific and he had never Before found such a response from the ordinary people. Chinese pressure on water and food supplies had been a great mistake and had alienated the ordinary people. The police had been quite excellent and, in consequence, had retained the sympathy of the man in the street.

3. In conclusion, Sir Albert asked whether there was any point in making protests to the Chinese Charge d'Affaires in London. Tho Commonwealth Secretary said that we would look into this, but did not hold out much hope of getting anywhere by so doing.

SDL

0.G. Forster

12th July, 1967.

Ed (1626)

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN.

FA

Minutes.

27

EX

Ed (1626)

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN.

Minutes.

FD 1/3

SEE ANNEX

FJ (1626)

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN.

W

Minutes.

25

бес

TEX

นา

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES No.31

24

P.S. to Mr. Rodgers.

13 JUL 1967

10113

Secretary of State has sean.

Su 10

7

HUNG KONG

1 was disturbed by the equivocal tone

and the content of the Commonwealth Secretary's

reply to supplementary questions about Hong Kong

in the House this afternoon. He was asked by

Balniel to state that it was the Government's

intention to maintain the status quo and avoided

a reply. Pressed by Lodds-Parker to give a

categorical assurance, he merely said that we must

fulfil our full responsibilities and obligations

in Hong Kong. Pressed again by Fletcher-Cooke

to give a firm assurance he said that a reply

would not be helpful at the moment and implied

that a firm statement might make things more

difficult for us.

1 can hardly believe that these remarks

will help us at all, either in terms of morale in

Hong Kong or Chinese judgment of our intentions.

I would have read them to imply that we are very

uncertain about the future and are possibly

prepared to consider getting out.

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

We shall possibly see in tomorrow's

papers how much damage has been done but when

you have read Hansard you may feel that the

matter is sufficiently serious to raise in

Cabinet.

WTR

William Rodgers

10 July, 1967.

c.c. Mr. de la Mare

Mr. Bolland

CONFIFENTIAL

стра Entir

AP.A.

From: P. Nailor, Head of DS22

MINISTRY OF defence Main Building, Whitehall, LONDON S.W.I

Telephone; whitehall 7022, ext. 3287

23

SECRET

ET

Cali

Please address any reply to MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(

and it

DS22

Your reference:

DS22/9B

Выл. ра

Dear Sykes,

IRENEENVEEN IN 1997 & Resubmit

ARCHIVES No.31

1.. JUL 1869

FD1/3

З

چالی

I am sending you separately a copy of my letter of 10th July to Carter at the Commonwealth Office with our piece for the long-term paper on Hong Kong (C165/5(67) 1st Meeting). You may agree that this will need tying in with the Foreign Office con- tribution on the prospects of American involvement (para. 5(c) of the outline) and, unless you think the splicing better left to a later stage, we should be glad to see to it in whatever manner you suggest.

M. Bolla

22/1

Yours sincerely,

Nétéo

RAJyke Chris Howell 10 Pug

11-V" (FOR Peter Nailon) {afailo

that thi han only

reached me today sur

regrer

K.A. Sykes, Esq.,

Head of Defence Department,

This Foreign office, & Psume that all action

شما

for thing. Weinstad

K

will houre to be litum

uită considratan

стилов

han Sea

drape that. Szez

с

SECRET

ET

129円

9

1

With the Compliments of

J522

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

Main Building, Whitehall London, S.W.I.

WHItehall 7022

DS. Form 4

From:

P. Nailor, Head of DS22

S SECRET Sa

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE Main Building, Whitehall, LONDON S.W.1 Telephone: WHitehall 7022, ext. 3287

10th July 1967

Please address any reply to MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

DS22

and quote: DS22/9B Your reference:

Dear Carter,

I enclose the Ministry of Defence contribution to the long- term paper on Hong Kong which Moriarty agreed should come direct to you.

You will see that we deal only with the garrison as the section on intelligence is being prepared separately by the JIC. We shall also be in touch with the Foreign Office about paragraph 5(c) of the outline paper; it is not for us to examine the possibility of American involvement, but I think this should be mentioned in connection with the defence of Hong Kong at some point in the paper, in the general context of trying to define what "identifying aggression" means for third parties.

2.

I am sending copies of this letter to Sykes and Butler at the Foreign Office and to Moriarty and Foster at the Cabinet Office.

Yours sincerely Peter Navior

W.S. Carter, Esq., Commonwealth Office, Church House,

Great Smith Street, 3.W.1.

SECRET

SECRET

SOCKET

Reference:

D822/98

FING FAN

TES OF DEPENCE CONTRIBUTION TO KONINGSTAR CIFICE DHAFT

Until recently the Army had 62/3 major units in Hong Kong(1)

which, with supporting units, totalled about 7,300 British and Gurkha troops; there are also about 1,300 locally enlisted persoanel in toe Colony, A further Gurkha battalion has now been moved temporarily to Hong Kong. There are no RAF aircraft normally stationed in the Colony. The Royal Navy is represented by two coastal mineswe-pers and a frigate.

2. The garrison has three purpose5; to assist the Hong Kong government maintain order, to help the civil authorities control the frontier and to identify aggression in the event of an armed Chinese attack.

3. In any internal security situation the Hong Kong government could normally be expected to defer the direct involvement of troo: as long in possible. Eevertheless in serious disturbances the garrison, even if not called on, is easential as moral support for the Hong Kong police and as a visible guarantee of our inten-

to control the situation. In the event of grave internal disorders most of the garrison might have to be retained for Enter Bec ty tanka leaving only a small force available for the frontimi. This would be a calculated risk as Chinese fi-ssure at the border, right accompany disturbinoes in Hong Keys.

e

ite frotireole the warrison can sexist the pollon to oftus of refugena oz to control incursions by troulle-

It ent sho. 1imited nilifery threats and would thus astile forcan to deving and "ount a clearly recogni ant] - I order to invole the Colory, The garrison could not,

de und Borg Kury gainat a deliberate Invasion. The se evilmstel to have an vry (41,000 men) within enay nch of Hong Kong, They have a further amy plus an artillery division (7)%(ken) within 20% silen. They could also comand the air.

-

F..

Te save detailed plans for the reinforcement of dory Kong by ...ir and aea from Singapore/"alaysia, but there would probably bé exojatel only while the situation was still under control or

are, te pone circumstances, to cover a withdrawal.

+

No agould be anlikely to be able to reinforce effectively 1f the internal situation rot out of control as a result of increased pressure from Peking, including possibly a nase influx from China into the Colony: nor could we reinforce effectively in face of outright invasion. If internal security collapsed

coumetanoes would not favour evacuation. It is unlikely that ilitary reulotunce could then prevent or much delay a Chinese take-over, after wich the Chinese would be able to dictate highly unfavourable term of surrender.

2 Britian battalions, 3 Gurkha battalions, 1 light regiment of artillery, 1 armoured qar squadron, 1 field engineer squadron

par

Jul, 1751

SECRET

Ed (1626)

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN.

FD

Minutes.

W

EX

22

M.F.P

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN.

FO

Minutes.

21

See

AXIN

'EX

B.U.SM

34

SECRET

HONG KONG/CHINA

T!

RECEIVED IN

"ARCHIVES No.31

1 3 JUL 1967

FD1/3

I attach a copy of a minute which I have sent to Sir A. Galsworthy and to the other members of the "Hong Kong Committee".

W.20

2. I think it is going to be up to us in the Foreign Office to keep the Hong Kong Committee alive and active, and although not all its members will be direßtly concerned with some of the points raised in this minute I am working on the assumption that the more we can get them all interested in all aspects of the problem the greater our chances of getting the committee to do some useful work.

1

agree.

Aff. de balan

(A.J. de la Mare)

6 July 1967

Catur if

Sha Tai Kok burines,

the

with

сово

the Chinese

Lide

continues

& Escalate

andder!

brzome

Пий

way

organised mobs

дове

ио

пись

9.

urgent) a BUT

miante

your

Actif faker palex25 PRORET 12/7

BECRET

TORET

enter

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

1. JUL 1967

FD13

Jír A. Galsworthy

HONG KONG/UNIKA

Mr. John Keswick (Matheson and Company) asked me to lunch with him today.

2. He said that the long Kong Association had not this morning to discuss what could be done to restors, repert restore, business confidence in Hong Kong. I said that "restore" implied that confidence was being lost and Er. Keswick agreed that this was so. He said that a number of fastanses had been quoted at the meeting of Hong Kong manu- facturers saxing enquiries about transferring their activities to formoss, or even to this country. The loss of eonfilence, he said, want all the way down from managesent to labour. The ordinary worker, who" was being intimidated, was now taking the view that he must accommodate himself to the clearly changing times.

3. Mr. Keewiex said that Mr. Rodriques, a member of the Exsoutive Council now in this country, expected to call on the Commonwealth Jearetary on Xonday next, 10 July.

He was likely to sar Mr. Bowden to make a public statement either in his own nuze or in that of X.1.0. making it clear tout ve intended to stay in Hong Kong and were not going to be intimidated by Chinare threats. Kr. ..oiriques night sok Kr. Bowden to make it clear that we were staying certainly until 1997 when the leases on the Leased Territories expire and that even then we would not expect tamely to walk out but would seek to renegotiate the lease.

I said that speaking personally I doubted very such whether my minister, or H.X.G. collectively, would be prepared to ba committed to 1997 or beyond. (Mr. Laswick sencurred). Again speaking personally, I did think however that given our obligations to the people of Hong Kong H.X.G. might be prepared to consider a publić statement to the effect that present Chinese tactics were not going to frighten us into running away.

5. Mr. Keswick also raised the question of the treatment of foreign ships in Chinese porta. with referanse tɔ the two recent incidente in Dairen and Shanghai when British ships had been plastered with slogans and posters and their officers and erev seereed and intimidated. Mr. Laswick's own view was that in spite of thes- difficulties we shouli no: curtail or abandon our shipping trade with China but he said that a new consideration had arisen in tast the Merchant Shipping Officers Union (this may not be their exact title) were

SECRET

/becoming

Je Shorthand (persis)

it Bollya

P.A. 26%,

اکام

ебіс

"17"

becoming restive and might soon refuse to man ships plying to Chinese ports. Kr. Keswick and his shipping associates were considering whether it would advisable to spread the word around in shipping oirales throughout the world that foreign ships plying to China might be subjected to the kind of treatment the two British ships have recently suffered. The object would be to get the word back to Feking that a general boycott of Chine by foreign shipping mig:t be in the offing.

I suggested that the shipping companies might wish to bear two points in mindi

6.

(4)

that sinos, as far as we know, so far only British ships had been affected, the Chinese would know immediately that the international sove had been instigated by us and that they sight take it out on us by banning British shipping altogether. In such circumstances couli Mr. Keswick and his associates rely on the solidarity of their competitors?

(b) if they did decide to take action would

they want to to it only through shipping channels or would they expect some help from us? I explained that it waO technically quite feasible for us to have the appropriato menuage spread around in shipping eireles throughout the world but it would be necessary to decide whether such official action by H.M.G. would help or not.

Mr. Leswick unlertook to think these points over and let me know.

7. I also asked Kr. Keswick both in relation to Hong Kong in particular and to China in general, how long he thought we should be prepared to sabait to the present Chinese policy of hostility toward us. I pointed out that, quite apart from what might happen in liong Kong itself, further Chinese mob setion, for instance against our mission in Peking, night raise a demand in this country that we break off diplomatis relations with China, I explained that our present view was that we should try to hold on as long as possible because the situation in China was so fluid that a change of policy there might easily take place and perhaps it might be for the better. Mr. Keswick fully concurred. At first he said that he expected possibly quite dramatic changes within China in six months; he then

SECRET

corrected.

STORET

corrected himself and said that his long experience of Chinese affaire had taught his that what might rationally be expected elsewhere to take a given time would take three times as long in China. He therefore substituted sighteen months for six.

(A.J. de la Mare)

6 July, 1967

20

Go:des toi Mr. Hall, C.O.

Mr. Peck

Mr. Uwart-Bigge (2 copies) Kr. Bolland

5102ET

SECRET

Sir A. Galsworthy

HONG KONG/GITNA

Kr. John Keswick (Matheson and Company) asked me to lunch with him today.

2. He said that the Hong Kong Association had met this morning to discuss what could be done to restore, repeat restore, business confidence in Hong Kong. I said that "restore" implied that confidence was being lost and Mr. Keswick agreed thạt this was 80. He said that a number of instances had been quoted at the meeting of Hong Kong manu- facturers making enquiries about transferring their activities to Formosa, or even to this country. The loss of confidence, he said, went all the way down from managenent to labour. The ordinary worker, who was being intimidated, was now taking the view that he must accommodate himself to the clearly changing times

3. Mr. Keswick said that Mr. Rodriques, a member of the Executive Council now in this country, expected to call on the Commonwealth Secretary on Monday next, 10 July. He was likely to ask är. Bowden to make a public statemɑnt either in his own nane or in that of 8.3.0. making it clear that wa intended to stay in Hong Kong and were not going to be intimidated by Chinese threats. Mr. Rodriques might ask Mr. Bowden to make it clear that we were staying certainly until 1997 when the leases on the Leased Territories expire and that even then we would not expect tamely to walk out but would seek to renegotiate the lease.

4. I said that speaking personally I doubted very auch whether my minister, or H.X.G. collectively, would be prepared to be committed to 1997 or beyond. (Mr. Keswick concurred). Again speaking personally, I did think however that given our obligations to the people of Hong Kong H.M.G. might be prepared to consider a public statement to the effect that present Chinese tactios were not going to frighten us into rumning away.

5. Mr. Keswick also raised the question of the treatment of foreign ships in Chinese ports. with reference to the two recent incidents in Dairen and Shanghai when British ships had been plastered with slogans and posters and their officers and grew voereed and intimidated. Mr. Laswiek's own view was that in spite of these difficulties we should not surtail or abandon our shipping trade with China but he said that a new consiisration had arisen in that the Merchant Shipping Pping Officers Union (this may not be their exact title) were

JEORST

/becoming

becoming restive and might soon refuse to man ships plying to Chinese ports. Er. Keswick and his shipping associates were considering whether it would advisable to spread the word around in shipping oireles throughout the world that foreign ships plying to China might be subjected to the kind of treatment the two British ships have recently suffered. The object would be to get the word back to Peking that a general boycott of China by foreign shipping might be in the offing.

6.

I sugested that the shipping companies might wish to bear two points in winds

(=)

that since, as far as we know, so far only British ships had been affected, the Chinese would know immediately that the international sove had been instigated by us and that they night take it out on us by banning British shipping altogether. In such circumstances couli Hr. Kaswick and his associates rely on the solidarity of their competitors?

(b) if they did decide to take action would

they want to do it only through shipping channels or would they expect some help from us? I explained that it wLE technically quite feasible for us to have the appropriate message spread around in shipping ciroles throughout the world but it would be necessary to decide whether such official action by H.M.O. would help or not.

Coswick undertook to think these points over and let me know

7. I also asked Mr. Loowiek. both in relation to Hong Kong in particular and to China in general, how long he thought we should be prepared to submit to the present Chinese policy of hostility toward us. I pointed out that, quite apart from what might happen in Hong Kong itself, further Chinese nob sation, for instance against our mission in Peking, might raise a demand in this country that we break off diplomatic relations with China. I explained that our present view was that we should try to hold on as long as possible because the situation in China was so fluid that a change of policy there night easily Mr. Kesriek take plase and perhaps it might be for the better.

At first he said that he expected possibly quite dramatic changes within China in six months; he then

SECRET

/corrected

SECRET

sorrected himself and said that his long experience of Chinese affairs had taught him that what night rationally be expected elsewhere to take a given time would take three times as long in China. He therefore substituted eighteen months for six.

(A.J. de la Xare)

6 July, 1967

Copies to:

Mr. Hall, C.o.

Kr. Pack

Kr. Zwart-Bigge (2 copies) Kr. Bolland

SECRIT

SEORET

Sir A. Halsworthy

HONG KONG/CHINA

Mr. John Keswick (Matheson and Company) asked me to lunch with him today.

2. He said that the Hong Kong Association had net this morning to discuss what could be done to restore, repeat restore, business confidence in Hong Kong - I said that "restore" implied that confidence was being lost and Mr. Keswick agreed that this was so. He said that a number of instances had been quoted at the meeting of Hong Kong manu- facturers making enquiries about transferring their activities to Formosa, or even to this country. The loss of confidence. he said, went all the way down from management to labour. The ordinary worker, who was being intimidated, was now taking the view that he must accommodate himself to the clearly changing times.

3. Ir. Keswick said that Mr. Rodriques, a member of the Executive Council now in this country, expected to call on

He was the Commonwealth Secretary on Monday next, 10 July. likely to ask Kr. Bowden to make a public statement either in his own name or in that of H.M.G. making it clear that we intended to stay in Hong Kong and were not going to be intimidated by Chinese threats. Mr. Rodriques might ask Mr. Bowden to make it olear that we were staying certainly until 1997 when the leases on the Leased Territories expire and that even then we would not expect tamely to walk out but would seek to renegotiate the lease.

4. I said that speaking personally I doubted very much

her any minister, or B.M.G. collectively, would be prepared to be committed to 1997 or beyond. (Mr. Keswick concurred). Again speaking personally, I did think however that given our obligations to the people of Hong Kong H.M.G. might be prepared to consider a public statement to the effect that present Chinese taotios were not going to frighten us into running away.

5. Mr. Keswick also raised the question of the treatment of foreign ships in Chinese ports. with reference to the two recent incidents in Dairen and Shanghai when British ships had been plastered with slogans and posters and their officers

Mr. Keswick'a own view was and crew coerced and intimidated. that in spite of these difficulties we should not curtail or abandon our shipping trade with China but he said that a new consideration had arisen in that the Merchant Shipping Officers Union (this may not be their exact title) were

/becoming

SECRET

bey

becoming restive and might soon refuse to man ships plying to Chinese ports. Mr. Keswick and his shipping associates were considering whether it would/advisable to spread the word around in shipping circles throughout the world that foreign ships plying to China might be subjected to the kind of treatment the two British ships have recently suffered. The object would be to get the word back to Peking that a general boycott of China by foreign shipping might be in the offing.

6.

I surgented that the shipping companies might wish to bear two points in mind:

(a) that since, as far as we know, so far

only British ships had been affected, the Chinese would know immediately that the international move had been instigated by us and that they might take it out on us by banning British shipping altogether. In such circumstances could Mr. Keswick and his associates rely on the solidarity of their competitors?

(b) if they did decide to take action would

they want to do it only through shipping channels or would they expect some help from us? I explained that it was technically quite feasible for us to have the appropriate message spread around in shipping ciroles throughout the world but it would be necessary to decide whether such official sotion by H.M.G. would help or not.

Mr. Keswick undertook to think these points over and let me know

7. I also asked Mr. Keswick. both in relation to Hong Kong in particular and to China in general, how long he thought we should be prepared to submit to the present Chinese policy of hostility toward us. I pointed out that, quite apart from what might happen in Hong Kong itself, further Chinese mob sation, for instance against our mission in Peking, might raise a demand in this country that we break off diplomatic relations with China. I explained that our present view was that we should try to hold on as long as possible because the situation in China was so fluid that a change of policy there might easily Mr. Keswick take place and perhaps it might be for the better. fully concurred. At first he said that he expected possibly quite dramatic changes within China in six months; he then

/corrected

[

SECRET

1

SECRET

corrected himself and said that his long experience of Chinese affairs had taught him that what might rationally be expected elsewhere to take a given time would take three times as long in China. He therefore substituted eighteen months for six.

Copien to:

(A.J. de la Mare)

6 July, 1967

Kr. Hall, 0.0.

Kr. Pack

Kr. Ewart-Biggs (2 copies) Kr. Bolland

SECRET

EJ (1626)

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN.

20

FD

Minutes.

1/3

SEE ANNEX

Bd (1636)

ļ

!

:

!

:

I

FO

Reference...

1/3

12

SEE ANNEX

Ed (1626)

Reference.

Т-Г-Г- ---1--

18

!

FD1/3

SEE ANNEX

Ed (1626)

Reference...

-LIINILIL

+

FD1/3

17

SEE ANNEX

BJ (166)

4

|

i

!

FD

Reference.

1/3 16

!

SEE ANNEX

F

Ed (1626)

Reference....

FD 1/3

SEE ANNEX

15

.

CONFIDENTIAL

25/

(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HER BRITANNIC HATESTY'S JOVERNMEN'S)

CEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 31

Ent.

14

FD 1/3

CABINET

COFF NO.

14

ра

pake

DRGENCE AND OVERSEA POLICY (OFFICIAL) COMMITTEE

DEFENCE REVIEW WORKING PARTY

MEETING ARRANGEMENTS

A nocting of the Working Party will be held in Conference Room 'B', Cabinet Office, Whitehall, S.W.1., on HONDAY, 26th JUNE 1967 at 2.30 p.a.

This will be the meeting to discuss Hong Kong which was foreshadowed in OFDO(DR)(67) 24th Mooting, Minute 3. In addition to members of the Working Party the persons named below are invited to attend the nooting Hombers of the Working Party who do not feel it necessary to attend this nooting, or who would wish someone else to reprosent their Departzont for this meeting, are invited to notify Mr. Harrison, Cabinet Office,

Extension 23,

Cabinet Office, S.W.1.

22nd Juno 1967

(Signed) M.J. MORIARTY

The following are invited to attend:

Mr. E. Bolland, Foreign Office Mr. H.P. Hall, Commonwealth Offico Mr. W.S. Carter, Commonwealth Office Mr. M.S. Harris, Board of Trade

CONFIDENTIAL

Ed (1626)

|

1.

|

|

Reference..

FD1|3

LIIL·LEL-In

FOLLO (13

TRANS. To

FC 1/3

FOR COMMCEN USE

PRIMARY

ROUTING

TIME

OBF HONG KONG

1653.

CONFIDENTIAL

MOD SIGNAL

SICK

H

Instructions on Category: Pederna alec Assmed reply on Padrend?

PRECEDENCE-ACTION

PRIORITY

T/H

PRECEDENCE- INFO

ROUTINE

or Feterents DATE-TIME GROUP

FROM MOD UK

Dilber

TO (One addressee to a line)

GROZ

0378

Form 31

12

MESSAGE INSTRUCTIONS

Find

محمد

SECURITY PLASSIFICATION

-

Messages eng to a class- fied message must be classified Restricted of above)

OPERATOR

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

-N

COLD

25

INFO

COPIES

#5398

CINCTE

27 JUN 1967

DESPATCH

DIG

TIME

OPERATOR

CHECK

FD1/3

SERIAL No. (inserted by COMMCEN)

ROT

+

1.

From the Chief of the Defence Staff

The Chiefs of Staff would be grateful if the Governor of Hong Kong would be willing to attend our meeting at 1445 on

We would much appreciate this opportunity Tuesday 27th Juna.

to hear the Governor's views on the latest situation in Hong Kong.

and to exchange views on current problems.

2.

The Commonwealth Office are aware that we are contacting the Governor through you and have provisionally included our proposed meeting in his programme.

3.

We would be grateful therefore, if you would pass this

invitation to the Governor.

DISTRIBUTION (To Include originator)

CDS (7)

CITS

CGS A

CAS (4)

CAPE

DOC/COSSEC (9)

* OF DE

Sec DPS (2) DODS(1)

mage.........

of

1...Pages

FILE

AUS(Pol) (2)

DS 11 Foreign Office, Roon 9 (6)

Major-General McHeill (30

refers to a classified motenge

| This massaga (Tick oppropriate box)

dow not refer to a classified massaga

NUMBER

DRAFTER'S NAME

IN BLOCK LETTERS

DIV.DIR/BRANCH

TELEPHONE NUMBER

RELEASING

OFFICER'S SIGNATURE

DATE

AME IN ALOCK LETTERS

21.6.67

KANK

0.G.H. ARMOND

COSSEC

BUILDING: EXTENSION:.

Winsfor

J.H. G1330%

MAJƆR-GÜNERAL

6 % $ Lud 31-4555

Note: Mossagas comprising five or more pages must be collated

CONFIDENTIAL

SECRET

Kulis

HWB.1/21.

RECEIVED IN 1 Commonwealth Office (Church House)

¡ARCHIVES No.31

JUN 1967

FD113

S.W.1.

15 June, 1967.

Col.A.

ی

---

+

Dear Calibe

In Hong Kong telegram No.809 the Governor has suggested the establishment of an interdepartmental committee in Whitehall to consider questions sách as those which he has raised in that telegram. It could also be the forum for preliminary consideration of such questions as our trade with China (Hong Kong

telegram No.790). Fe6/120

2. As you know, we discussed this in the Foreign Office on 12 June and it was agreed that a small committee night serve a useful purpose. It could be enlarged as necessary for the consideration of specific items. We had in mind a committee on which the following departments would be more or less permanently represented:-

Commonwealth Office

(Hong Kong Department and

Asia Economic Department)

Board of Trade

Foreign Office

(Far Eastern Department)

Treasury

Hong Kong Government Office

Others could be invited to send representatives as appropriate (e.g. Bank of England, E.C.G.D.). The Board of Trade, Foreign Office or Treasury night wish to add other representatives of their departments for particular items,

3. We envisaged that representation would normally be at Assistant Secretary level although departments might find it convenient to send other representatives.

4. If you agree to these proposals, I would like to call the first meeting for 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 20 Jung, when we might considers-

(a) adraft guidance telegram to posts abroad (paragraph 2(a)

of Hong Kong telegram No.809); I hope to circulate a first draft before the meeting;

(b) the question of trade with China (Hong Kong telegram No.790),

as well as some of the other points raised by the Governor in his telegram No.809. I would be glad to know whether the suggested date and time would be convenient.

5. I am sending copies of this letter to Morris (Board of Trade), Lucas (Treasury), Whitebead (Asia Economic Department), Rawlings(E.C.G.D.) and Sedgwick (Hong Kong Government Office).

E. Bolland Esq.,

Far Eastern Department,

lows

Bunny

(W.S. Carter)

London, S.W.1.

SECRET

Foreign Office,

SECRET

Commonwealth Office

S.W.1

15 June, 1967.

10

Dear Arth

When we were discussing Hong Kong

affairs on Monday we also discussed the

proposals put forward in Hong Kong telegram

Fril (120) 809.

809. I attach a draft reply and would be

grateful for your comments before I submit

it to Sir Saville Garner, who said he would

like to see the draft.

Jaureu

Hey Hall

Clared with Orde la More.

(H.P. Hall)

of Carter informed.

SPA

A.J. de la Mare, Esq., C.M.G.

SECRET

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

1 6 JUN 1967

FD1/3

DRAF

Her Governor,

PRIGEIST AND SPORNT

(w.RD)

POLAR SERGAPORE AND VASKEOPON

Polagać Singapore

Washington

Your telegram No.809.

As for Hong Kong telegram No.809.

ntation in Bong Kong

An inter-departmental comed÷tes is being set up to

consider questions such as those which you have raised.

At thé present tips our thinking is that it would be

preferable to confine membership to a few departments

(Sedgiick of course will also be a member), bringing in

otħar departments by ad bog arrangémonie as necessary.

Our preliminary thoughts on the other suggestions

2.

1

(in your paragraph 2]are as

- FollowBe (a) to have it in kind so B circular guidance

Commornemal th and foreiɛn postaj

(1) we agree that occasional visita by large

Amariom naval vessels may help to keep the

Chiness guessing about Amsulosa intentiona

in relation to Hong Kong. We think that

some of the Amerioan requests for sock

visita oeuld be accepted, each request

/beling

1. CLE

+

SPORT

-2-

being considered on its merits in the light of the

situation at the time. In this conusation, we

content that you should agree to the vizit of the

3.9.3. MAROCK (your talegram #o.835 reform).*

fw. Lagan

feel some doubts about more direct indications of

Amerieen interest and começar in Hong Kong, There is

perhaps a danger that these night serve the purpose

of the extremløbs in China rather than sat sa I

deterrent. Clearly we need to look very carefully

at the fom and nextent of my American gesture of

support. We are studying this and vill let you kara

our farther viewüş

Aur, for

! Ai Tim being we

(c) we are not at all happy about the idea that Hong Kơng

sight seek closer alignment and identity of interesta

vd th countries in the region that hava basioally right-

wing regimes in Chinese eyes. That dividend this sight

bring for local confidence could be more than offest

by the provocation it will give in Pekings

(d) we do not think an approach to the Japanese Government

ane sfond

would prodños

I should do not

Footer vid.

byd yn from

Vom (pora

Jyou 67. No 727)..

Other methods have boeri

rée are considering

(a) we roslly do not see any future in trying to find out what

vould matšaty Faking, in approach in a third country or

through a third party will not result in a response that

would be my different to the one we would get if we made

our own approach in Peking or Londong no such approach

would be amovered directly but would be referred back to

Peking whose responas | SAND be the reiteration of their

/full

+

(r)

ful` domande. As we see it, there could

be no other respons in the propert

situation in Peking? It soose to us that

ndth the sample of Kaoso before we ve

most avoid entering into any negotiations

et

Eff

unless Peking itself [nakas 'the running with}

Which could promile sta

teams that indicate there is a baste for an

acceptable settlement;

nd

of Trade are taking à

FCCD

Killə bəllideblo Iine fa

enquizion both from

rier-alike. ́% shall do

to back up Sadgulek's efforts

through his contacts with B.V.R.C., V.B.I.

sol other bodies to push the line that

Hong Kong remaine

good market for British

exports and that Hong Kong industry and

trode continues to function normally. We

suggestions to Selgadok about

artending the distribution of the material

being put out by his office and will

in touch with 1500 on this.

(Hi) RAVE - Malague www HK.

15.6.67.

M.F.P

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN.

stupi D=

Minutes

19

SEG ANNEX

M.F.P

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN this margIN.

FO 1/3

8

SEE ANNEX

M.F.P

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN.

FD 1/3

SEE ANNEX

Ed (1626)

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN.

FO 1/3

Minutes.

SEE ANNEX

رو

Cypher

CONFIDENTIAL

OUTWARD TELEGRAM

FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)

TO HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)

דין

| EDI/3

HWB 1/17

Sent 2nd June, 1967 2200Z

FD1/6 17

IMMEDIATE

CONFIDENTIAL No. 1112

Your telegram No. 699,

ре

It is proposed that statement on Hong Kong disturbances should be made in House of Lords on 6th June. Regret that our telegram No. 1106 misinformed you on this point since no statement has yet been made in that House.

2.

It may be possible to include in statement a reference to the public challenge mentioned in your telegram.

We shall accordingly be grateful to learn whether anyone has taken up the challenge and if so with what result?

Distribution

H.K. WID 'C' I.G.D.

J.1.C. EXTERNAL DISTRIBUTION

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

Copies also sent to:-

P.S. to Prime Minister

Cabinet Office

Foreign Office

-

D.I.O., J.I.R. P.S. to Mr. Rodgera Mr. de la Mare

*

#

11

#

Treasury

Export Credits Guarantee Dept.

Ministry of Defence (Room 7365)

+

11

Board of Trade

-

H 7163)

-

tt 51 31)

-

Commonwealth office (News Dept.)

CONFIDENTIAL

Mr. Bolland

Mr. Wilson

Mr. Denson

Mr. Foggon

Mr. D. Hawkins

Mr. C.P. Rawlings

Mr. Henn

Major Koe

M.0.2.

Mr.J.A.B.

Darlington

Mr. Carrocher

4

He BillLd.

Lave

Reference.

01/3 (W-1

FD1|3

Long term planning for Hong Kong

I do not think that you

yet

Been

The Tetter.

il. Ellisht in certainly night bur his predicted crisis han overlaken consideration of the letter.

any

pour will now

I think his pour

be taken care of by the

reconsideration of ou

да

genera

position

Hong Kong.

↑agra. P.A

с

Sz

مساعد

V1

John Denson

Thi

CONFIDENTIAL

Private Secretary

RECEIVED IN

CHIVES NON.

- 2 JUN 1967

FD 1/3

HONG KONG

Hilo.

The Minister of State at the

Commonwealth Office is making a statement

in the House of Commons this afternoon on

the recent disturbances in Hong Kong. An

identical statement will be made by Lord

Beswick in the House of Lords. I attach

a copy of the latest available draft of the

It has been prepared in consulta-

statement.

tion with the Department.

SEEN BY

SECRETARY OF

John Densen

(J.B. Denson)

1 June, 1967

STATE.

Copies to:

Mr. Samuel

Mr. de la Mare

P

pe

CONFIDENTIAL

سر

W3

....

I wish to make a statement about liong Kong.

In the period between the 6th and 22nd May there nas a series of disturbances. These arose originally frea a labour dispute in two factories. but what began as a genuine labour dispute was then taken up and exploited for quite different ends by local Communists with stimulated intervention by hooligan elements, some of whom were paid. Organised demonstrations were no nted as a direct and deliberate challenge

In some cases to the authority of the Hong Kong Government. these were orderly but in others they led to disturbanc÷s involving police action. There has been open incitement to .iolence and to disaffection,

of Kowloont

Up the 17th May the demonstrations were confined to parts

thereafter they spread to Victoria on ling kog Islond. Processions, assemblies in public places and the sticking of posters on public buildings and at the entrance gates to the grounds of Government House, although unlcwful, were tolerated so long as demonstrators remained fairly orderly,

It become apart from chanting and shouting venɛmais obuse, necessary, however, on the 20th tiny, because of increasing romliness, to diaperse further unlawful assemblies and processions, although up to the 22nd May orderly groups of 20 persons were still permitted to present petitions at Government ffouse.

Throughout the disturbances the Hong Kong police have succeeded in controlling the situation with the minimum amount of force. Apart from the firing of three revolver shots rounding one man, by a constable over whom petrol had been throw no firearms have been used, The greatest restraint has been exercised throw hout by the police, despite extrene provocation. The Secretary of State and I have already poid public tribute to them in Hong Xin, and I will do so ngain.

now.

The know casualties comprise 36 police and 70 demonstrators, of these, three police and 14 other casualties were admitted to hospital, All have since been discharged. There has been only one death, that of a bystander who was killed by a stone. 815 persons were arrested, of whom 65 have been released without proceedings or acquitted. Of the remainder 565 have been convi, ted of riot, unlawful assembly, assault, breaking curfew and other off.nces, and 185 cases are pending. All persona arrested are being trested in the normal way in accordance with the due process of the low, The House may fect that these frete contrast somewhat with other reports alleging, for example, that on 22nd May "at lenɑt two hundred compatriota

1

+

F

+

1

4

!

+

were

صيني

+

were killed or severely injured" in Hong Kong and Kowloon,

There have been no demonstrations since the 22nd May But there have been a series of token stoppages notably in certain transport and supply services. These were all politically motivated.

In Hong Kong itself there has been widespread and forth- right public support for the Government's measures to deal with violence, intimidation and hooliganism by a small minority, including messages of support to the Governor from over 500 representative organisations.

As regards the original labour dispute, my latest information is that work at both the factories has now been

resumed. I am in consultation with the Governor about changes in the field of labour relations which I think we would all feel would be timely. I have in mind such matters as hours of work for women and young persons, conciliation machinery rad factory legislation.7

For the future, we must hope that good sense will prevail, I am of course, in close and constant touch with the Governor. There have been statements alleging that the Hong Kong Goverment have been acting out of motives of enmity towards

China. I do not need to say in this louse that we, like ell

sections of opinion in Hong Kong, đesire friendly and good- neighbourly relations with China. Eut the Government of long Kong has the duty to raintain peace, order and good government. This task they must fulfil, and we have, iven them clear

assurances of our complete support and determination to maintain our position there,

Finally, I wish to pay tribute to the calm and couragecus Leadership during these difficult times of the Govemor, Sir David Trench; to the ability and th...: determination shov by the whole Hong Kong Administration; to the

to the splendid and exemptory manner in which the police have acquitted themselves; and to the indomitable spirit and unity of the people of long Kong in facing the difficulties created by a minority of

trouble-makers.

1

+

4

L

·

·

I

:

I

L

1

+

L

+

+

+

H

I

*FCEIVED IN

** HIVES No.81

-- 2 JUN 1967

02054

FD1/3 TOP COPY

F

1

EUS

F 001

11/82-

-DE

O

020340Z

ES

ASOLIH NO 569

TO 00 ASOLHY 622012

CR 16

رش

Pekines

tel

по 622

0652

g

2 Way

Sovic

find have laken

action

TEXT OF YESTERDAYS STATEMENT IN PARLIAMENT ABOUT

HONGKONG NOT YET RECEIVED PLEASE EXPEDITE

HOPSON

-

да

21.

GR16

Falm

For Cost &

7p+8 Jip+1 for 117

JIPGD

DINGE

IMBE Romish

2 ADR

Ada ofi

HI FC BR

HI JIPED

C.A. 41A

38,850-4/85-B47061

REF.

PERSONAL

Mr. With othe butt.

COLONIAL SECRETARIAT

LOWER ALBERT ROAD

HOME HONG

Formy

We shall nam

Iear Edi

consitu This in

Yo

unis Defens "P.U.S's Dimo

ва

May 4th, 1967.

RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES No 31

1. AY 1967

FD1/3

I was most interested to read the Steering Committee's paper (SC(67)11) of February 23rd on "Policy Towards Japan", not least because it contained a general statement (in paragraph 9) of British policy in Asia based on the "peripheral strategy".

2.

but

There was of course much discussion of the "peripheral strategy" at the Heads of Mission Conference in Hong kong last June. I am very glad to see that it has now been accepted; the fact that it has been accepted confirms me in the view, which I put to John Thomson when he was here last year (and also in conversation to uore-Booth) that there ought to be a new planning study of H.M.G.'s policy towards Hong Kong. If the "peripheral strategy" is accepted, the position of Hong Kong is surely an anomaly.

3.

During my two years here, I have become increasingly conscious of the fact that H.M.G.'s policy towards Hong Kong has not been examined in detail for (I believe) ten years; and quite possibly for a much longer time than that This lack of a long-term policy naturally makes it much more difficult to be certain that such decisions as are taken on short-term policy are on the right lines. Indeed, short-term policy has often enough to be worked out, as it were, from back to front. As the Hong Kong uefence Secretary, Jack Cater, will be informing Bunny Carter in a letter this week, discussions are now taxing place between the C. in C. F.E. and the C.B.F.Zabout the revision of the latter's "directive"; and faute de mieux these discussions have had to proceed on the basis of only the most vague assumptions about what n.M.c.'s long-term policy towards Hong Kong may be. The risk that in these circumstances military planning may get out of touch with political realities seems considerable.

4.

What i am thinking of is a joint study by the Foreign uffice and Commonwealth Office of п.M.G.'s policy for nong Kong nong_kong over the next ten years. Ubviously, there are imponderables in the situation, notably the lines on which Chinese policy is

/going

s. Bolland, Esq., Far Eastern Dept.,

be should discuss the when

Foreign urrice, he dust

London, 8.#.1.

Settler.

Bu. 2. weekn

19:

3600073

SECRET

CA HA

30,000-4/65-347M1

REF.

-2-

COLONIAL SECRETARIAT

LOWER ALBERT ROAD

HONG KONG

going to develop, which would make the preparation of a paper of this sort a difficult matter. The events of the last year, both in China and Macau, cast doubt on some of the more comfortable assumptions that have been made about Hong Kong's future. But it seems to me that this fact in itself provides a very strong reason for making some attempt now to rethink

long-term policy. We cannot now rule out quite so happily as we could, say, in 1963, the possibility of a serious crisis developing over Hong Kong (though this still does not seem very likely). What does seem important is that if such a crisis were to develop suddenly some of the possible options open to Ministers should have been considered beforehand at a fairly high level.

5. I ought to say that I am writing this entirely on my own initiative. But it is, I believe, becoming generally more obvious here that the lack of even a sketch of any carefully thought out long-term policy towards Hong Kong does create short-term planning difficulties. Obviously, Ministers have other more pressing problems to consider, but Hong Kong after all is now the most significant remaining dependent territory; and it could become the centre of an international crisis.

b.

I hope to be going on leave for two months in July, and should be back in London about the 8th. I look forward to seeing you then.

L

SECRET

Yours aver,

Away [hine

(T.A.K. Elliott)


本網站純為個人分享網站,不涉商業運作,如有版權持有人認為本站侵害你的知識版權,請來信告知(contact@histsyn.com),我們會盡快移除相關內容。

This website is purely for personal sharing and does not involve commercial operations. If any copyright holder believes that this site infringes on your intellectual property rights, please email us at contact@histsyn.com, and we will remove the relevant content as soon as possible.

文本純以 OCR 產出,僅供快速參考搜尋之用,切勿作正規研究引用。

The text is purely generated by OCR, and is only for quick reference and search purposes. Do not use it for formal research citations.


如未能 buy us a coffee,點擊一下 Google 廣告,也能協助我們長遠維持伺服器運作,甚至升級效能!

If you can't buy us a coffee, click on the Google ad, which can also help us maintain the server operation in the long run, and even upgrade the performance!