to refer with some frankness to the special
circumstances of Hong Kong and the real implications
for the Colony should we concede defeat in this matter
by the Chinese.
(b) Our argument that if the Chinese were successful in
using Mr. Grey as a hostare they might well be encouraged
to try the same thing with other British subjects in
future also applies with equal validity to the release
of the Krogers. It would seem best to leave this
w.answered.
-
(c), There is no parallel between the deal made over the
Krogers and the proposed deal with the Chinese to release
the Hong Kong prisoners outside the Colony. Mr. Long's
point a subtle one - is that in agreeing to release
the Krogers to Poland we were giving the Russians what
they wanted, while in offering to release the newsworkers
to China we knew we were proposing something to which the
Chinese were strongly opposed. There is some validity
in this. But in each case we did offer what was in
and in an effort to make an exchange
effect an exchange;
Jan
more palatable to the Chinese we showed considerable
flexibility. I have thought it worth reminding Mr. Long
how far we were prepared to go in offering the Chinese
a reasonable solution. This involves setting down the
essence of the arrangements offered to the Chinese through
covert channels earlier this year. I have however
avoided any mention of the channel as such (although : 1
SECRET
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