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that we can probably hold the position until September.
If this is so, what we have to decide is whether the
risks of the premature release of the eleven news workers
in Hong Kong continue to outweigh the advantages of an
immediate settlement of the Grey affair. It may be felt
that the argument has laid undue stress on the factor of
public confidence in Hong Kong. It is always difficult
to pronounce with certainly on the likely effect of any
particular action in Hong Kong. Nevertheless we must
leave ourselves a margin of error since any action which ainglo
lead the inhabitants of Hong Kong to conclude that we have
lost our nerve could very quickly become disastrous.
Admittedly there would be much to be said for taking risks
in Hong Kong and indeed for swallowing a lot of our pride
if we could really settle all outstanding cases of British
subjects - not only Mr. Grey. But the prospects of this
are remote. There is little to indicate that the remaining
British subjects are being held as hostages. They, like
the majority of other foreigners in trouble in China, are
held for a variety of alleged misdemeanours on their part.
Their cases would only be resolved slowly and with difficulty.
If we were to try to extend negotiations for the release of
Mr. Grey into a comprehensive bargain covering other British
subjects as well, I am sure that this would not help the
latter and would impede any progress over Mr. Grey. (This
is not to rule out the possibility that the solution of the
Grey problem might lead to some slight improvement in the
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