STORED
10
It is highly desirable that the Chinese should be left with
no formal pretext whatsoever for withholding visas from our
Kiosion. When informed of such a decision the Chinese would
be unlikely to give us any formal satisfaction;
but they
night conceivably be prepared in practice to grant exit vises
for the Mission. This is a matter of some urgency since
Sir D. Hopeon has recently for the first time introduced the
question of staff morale, pointing out that although the
situation is not yet desperate, the strain for those, divided
from their families and those who ought to leave China for
medical reasona is beginning to tell. We would not be giving away any significant bargaining counter. What is important
is not the requirement that the Chinese should have to ask
for permission to leave -which stems from the Foreign Office
Note without regular juridical basis. That is important is
that if in the event too many Chinese try to leave, the Security
Services and the Home Office should be ready to co-operate in
effective means to prevent them doing so.
British Subjects detained in China (See also Annex D)
13. (a) Mr. Crey
Since his detention last July, the Chinene have made it
abundantly clear that Kr. Grey is linked to developments in
Hong Kong. It is for that reason there never has boon ery
hope of achieving his release by pressure on N.C.N.A. in
London. We have so far not made any progress towards the
zalease of Er. Grey. The Chinese have not yet taken up the
question of exchanging him against N.C.N.A. journalists in
SECRET
/Hong