VIEW OF KOWLOON RAILWAY STATION, BRUCE ALONG PLATFORM AND INTO TRAIN, SHOTS FROM WINDOWS AS BRUCE AND WIFE LOOK OUT, BRUCE FILLING IN IMMIGRATION FORMS, TRAIN AT LO WU AND BRUCE AND PARTY ALONG PLATFORM AND INTO CHECKPOINT, BRUCE OUT OF CHECKPOINT AND ACROSS BRIDGE INTO CHINA.




Initials ESP/1438



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Background: The United States' blossoming dialogue with the People's Republic of China achieved a new status on Monday (14 May) when veteran diplomat David Bruce, who heads the first American diplomatic mission stationed in China for nearby a generation, crossed over the border from Hongkong.

The 75-year-old Mr. Bruce, accompanied by his wife and several mission officials, boarded the train in Kowloon and headed for the Lo Wu border point.

The task of Mr. Bruce's mission, which is called the U.S. Liaison Office in Peking, will be to exploit what President Nixon has termed "the potential for positive enterprises" between the United States and China.

The mission will handle all aspects of American relations with China, including trade and non-Government exchanges.

Mr. Bruce, who was later to continue by train to Canton and from there by air to Peking, was recalled from retirement to take up the Peking posting. He is one of the United States' most experienced diplomats.

There were brief formalities at Lo Wu checkpoint, then Mr. Bruce and his party said goodbye to the press before walk ??? directly across the bridge and into China.