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his concern was not only with Mr. Grey, but also with the
other British nationals who have been arrested in China
or were missing there. He would also point out, in order
to keep the matter in perspective, that the nationals of
other countries were also being held in China without
proper charges. While he sympathised with Mr. Grey and
his plight there was this much that could be said for him:
publicity had put him in the world spotlight and therefore
it seemed unlikely that the Chinese would allow any harm
to come to him lest this should damage their standing
internationally.
4.
Continuing Lord Shepherd said that HMG have sought,
and are still seeking, ways and means to get Mr. Grey out
of China. But the basic problem was that the Chinese have
never specified the terms under which they would be prepared
to release him. The Chinese have shifted ground on the
reasons for his detention. First they maintained that his
freedom had been restricted because of the persecution
of "patriotic journalists" in Hong Kong". Now they
maintain that it is because of the continued detention of
Chinese journalists in the colony.
5. The situation in Hong Kong had improved greatly. As
he (Lord Shepherd) told the Chinese Chargé d'Affaires
last week, the Hong Kong Government have undertaken
considerable measures of de-escalation. Many detainees
had now been released and Chinese communist schools in the
colony had been re-opened and the number of journalists
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