CONFIDENTIAL
Hong Kong telegram No. 1910 to Commonwealth Office (D.T.D.)
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quid pro quo in respect of Grey; the local NCNA would no doubt any knowledge of his position and any responsibility for doing anything about it. In the circumstances it seems to us there is now a strong case for Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires making the next move and taking the problem up with the MFA in Peking. He could perhaps tell them that the NCNA here have asked for certain privileges for their two reporters; point out that the reporters already enjoy privileges like regular monthly visits, and the receipt and despatch of letters which have not been accorded to Grey; and then make the point in paragraph 4 above, hinting broadly that whether or not discretion was exercised to approve special visits to the NUNA men at the New Year might well be considered in the light of what concessions were made to Grey now.
6.
There might well be difficulties about the details of such an approach; but any move here at this stage could involve us in making unilateral concessions without any guarantee that we should get anything for Grey.
Foreign Office please pass Immediate to Peking as my telegram No. 677.
Sir D. Trench
[Repeated as requested]
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