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of the reduction in
sentence (on May 9)
and other local factors. On this possible course
I would make the comment that I think that
the Governor will be loth to agree.
Personally
I think it might make it more certain that the
Chinese would release Mr. Grey, although I do
not believe they would release him until
was released in October. Whilst all
the latest information is that the health of
Mr. Grey is good and we have no reason to
believe that he could not withstand confinement
until then, particularly if news of steps taken
in Hong Kong became known to him, I feel I
should mention my misgivings about a course of
action which would leave him in detention until
October. But I do accept that from the
presentational point of view in Hong Kong there
is much to course (b). It seems to me,
however, that when it becomes known that while
we were ready to release ten of the journalists
but were insisting that
remained a
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prisoner/