Commo
HWB3/2
CONFIDENTIAL
112
ypher/Cat A
IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
Telno 375
WFID MTIAL
27 December, 1967
110)
Addressed to Toreign Office telegram No. 375 of 27 December. peated for information to:
Hong Kong.
Hong Kong telegram No. 1910: Prison Visits.
I agree that best course might be for me now to approach the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs broadly on the lines suggested in paragraph 5 of telegram under reference. I think that it would be necessary to make quite clear to the Chinese that concession of special New Year visit to NONA prisoners would depend on assurance from them that Grey would be given the same privileges for mail monthly visits as the NCNA already have as well as special New Year visit.
2. If the Chinese raise clothing I could explain possibility as given in paragraph 3 of telegram under reference. We are not repeat not)
fact interested in getting clothing to Grey. As regards Joodstuffs, if asked I should like to be able to say that providing the question of visits were arranged (which is most important for Grey) there was a possibility that food parcels for NCÑA could be arranged. Otherwise I would have to say that the matter was under consideration.
3. It occurs to me that if we are going to get into negotiation : of this complexity about Grey we might just as well go the whole and try to get him out. I could at least cast a fly over the Chir. About the possibility of swapping Grey for Houch Ping, as suggestou 4 previous telegrams by enquiring on a personal basis whether the Chinese would be prepared to accept Hsueh on deportation (if this proved possible) and allow Grey to leave the country. After all be idea has already been mooted in your letter to Ch'en Yi.
400 I understand the difficulties created by discriminatory treatment in prison. Would it be possible to ease this by somehow housing NCNA separately?
Foreign Office pass Immediate Hong Kong No. 194
Mr. Hopson
[Repeated as requested],
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.O. F.E.D.
News Dept.
Consular Dept.
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