CONFIDENTIAL
3 -
- 3
some outstanding problems. On the other hand, there
remains considerable force in the Governor's arguments
against discrimination in favour of the political prisoners
and in the need to prevent propaganda capital being made
out of prison visits by large numbers of communist sympathisers.
In the end our real hope of securing Mr. Grey's release,
opposed merely to consular access, lies in an exchange. This
can be pursued after the deportation of the two communist
film stars, which the Governor is putting in train, in order
to test the Chinese reactions. In the meantime, I do not
think that we should go beyond the course which the Governor
proposes. As it is, the N.C.N.A. prisoners are treated far
more generously than Kr. Grey and to make further concessions
to them which would damage our position in Hong Kong would
not be justified. Moreover it would underline to the Chinese
the value of Mr. Grey as a means of putting pressure on us
in Hong Kong.
Copies to:
Mr. Samuel
Mr. Carter, C.O.
(James Murray) 30 January, 1968
CONFIDENTIAL