Cypher/Cat A
PRIORITY PEKING
TO
Telno 888
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FOREIGN OFFICE
25 September 1968
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 888 of
25 September,
Repeated for information to Hong Kong.
(838)
839
842
Not on
Your telegrams Nos. 846 and 847: Grey.
1800
Official .statement is hardly what I had in mind when recommending publicity. It gives the impression that we know Grey to be in good health; whereas, as my telegrams Nos. 830, 831 and 861 make clear, the Chinese answer on Grey's health was evasive and referred only to our visit in April. Reports of Grey's ill-health post-date that visit. Unattributable briefing
is unlikely to be enough to correct this impression publicly, especially since it appears to make no mention of these reports.
801 808
2. In view of knwon sensitivity of Chinese over Grey (my telegrams Nos. 830 and 831 and now Hong Kong telegrams Nos. 2001 and 2007), it seems a pity, we have missed this chance to put more public pressure on them.
IS ANNEY
Pr's AWNEY
Foreign Office pass Hong Kong.
Mr. Cradock
[Repeated as requested]
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.0.
F.E.D.
C.O..
Consular Dept.
News Dept.
I.P.D.
Guidance Dept. I.R.D.
H.K.Dept. News Dept.
RECEIVED IN
ASCRIVES No. 63
· 25 SEP1968
HUD3/2
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859
CONFIDENTIAL