Cypher/Cat A
fos
CONFIDENTIAL
PRIORITY PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
Telno 831 7 September, 1968
CONFIDENTIAL
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 831 of
7 September
Repeated for information to: Hong Kong.
My immediately preceding telegram.
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303
1
Ch'i's reply to our request for information about Grey's health was clearly unsatisfactory, and Hunter made as much as possible of the point that the failure to provide a prompt and satisfactory reply would increase the concern about Grey not only of Her Majesty's Government but of the British public. Ch'i betrayed some sensitivity on this point, viz: his remarks about "exerting pressure" and his reference to newspaper articles (which implied that these articles are studied by the Chinese).
2.
We shall press the Chinese after a few days for replies to our requests. If we do not receive satisfactory replies within a week I recommend, particularly in the light of preceding paragraph, that publicity be given to state of Grey's health and to this interview.
3.
I thought it inconsistent to ask for Reuter's message to Grey (your telegram No. 818) to be passed at the same time as we were requesting consular access. I propose to pass this message by Note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a few days time, when it will no doubt be clear that consular access is again being denied.
4.
Nothing was said by the Chinese that would cast light on their possible price for Grey, though Ch'i said at one point that "it was correct to say that Grey's situation was related to the situation in Hong Kong".
F.0. pass Hong Kong.
Mr.Cradock
[Repeated as requested]
FILES
F.0.
0.0.
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F.E.D.
Consular Dept
News Dept
H.K.D.
News Dept
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REF
HWBok
CONFIDENTIAL
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