§ 39. Mr. Langford-Holtasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what changes have been made in the restrictions placed upon British diplomats in China.
§ Mr. Ian HarveyOn 30th June, the area around Peking within which members of the staff of the United Kingdom and other diplomatic missions are free to travel without prior notification was reduced from a radius of some thirty-five miles to one of about twelve miles. Outside this area the only places which may now be visited without notification are the Tombs of the Ming Emperors and part of the Great Wall of China, some twenty and forty miles, respectively, from the capital and the airport. Seven large towns in other parts of China, including Tientsin, Shanghai and Canton, may now be visited subject to forty-eight hours advance notification. For journeys to all other places, including much of the Peking municipal area, application for permission must now be made forty-eight hours in advance.
§ Mr. Langford-HoltIs it not quite clear from what my hon. Friend has said that our diplomatic representatives are not able properly to perform their duties, or does my hon. Friend hold a contrary view?
§ Mr. HarveyThey are obviously being restricted by the action which has been taken and which we regret.