CYPHER/CAT A.
IMMEDIATE PEKING.
TELEGRAM NO. 555.
CONFIDENTIAL.
CONFIDENTIAL
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE. 25 SEPTEMBER 1969.
ADDRESSED TO FCO TELNO 555 OF 25 SEPTEMBER RFI HONG KONG.
MY TELNO 551..
277)
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY No.51
26 SEP 1969
HKK 1/12
SINCE GREY'S FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT IS SO UNEQUIVOCALLY LINKED WITH
RELEASE ON 3 OCTOBER, GRATEFUL IF HONG KONG COULD TELL
US EXACT TIME THAT THIS WILL TAKE PLACE. I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD PASS THIS TO MFA IN ADVANCE. WE SHOULD ALSO BE GRATEFUL FOR CONFIRMATION BY FLASH TELEGRAM ON 3 OCTOBER WHEN THIS HAS OCCURRED.
2. WHILE I REALISE THERE IS PROBABLY A STOCK PROCEDURE IN NORMAL CASES, FROM POINT OF VIEW OF THIS POST THE EARLIER RELEASE OCCURS ON 3 OCTOBER THE BETTER. (E.G. 6.30 A.M PEKING TIME, 2230 HOURS GHT ON 2 OCTOBER). THIS MIGHT ENSURE THE RESTORATION OF GREY'S FREEDOM EARLY ON THAT DAY WHICH WOULD HELP HIM TO EVADE UNWELCOME INTEREST FROM THE PRESS WHO, WHATEVER WE SAY, MAY BE TEMPTED TO WAIT OUTSIDE HIS HOUSE. IT WOULD ALSO ENABLE US TO GET AHEAD WITH ASSISTING HIS DEPARTURE ARRANGEMENTS.
3. IT WILL OBVIOUSLY BE IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER WHAT IS SAID IN ANSWER TO PRESS INTEREST BEFORE 3 OCTOBER. DENSON MAY WISH TO COMMENT ON THIS AND OTHER PRESS ASPECTS ON HIS RETURN: MEANWHILE I WOULD
SUGGEST WE CONTINUE TO SAY THAT CHINESE HAVE INDICATED TO US ON A
NUMBER OF OCCASIONS THAT GREY'S FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT WILL BE RESTORED
WIEN ALL NEWSWORKERS IN HONG KONG ARE RELEASED. WE COULD ADD, IF QUESTIONED, THAT WE EXPECT THEM TO ABIDE BY THEIR ASSURANCES BUT THAT THE CHINESE HAVE GIVEN US NO INDICATION OF THE EXACT TIMING OF HIS
RELEASE, NOR HOW OR WHEN HE WILL LEAVE CHINA: THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT MUST BE AWARE OF THE REACTIONS WHICH THEIR SEEKING TO OBSTRUCT HIS
DEPARTURE WOULD EVOKE.
MR. ALLAN
FILES
F. EASTERN DEPT.
HONG KONG DEPT. NEWS DEPT.
CONS. DEPT.
SIR S. TOMLINSON MR. WILFORD
CONFIDENTIAL
LAST
RCF.
NEX
RCF
TQ
275
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
PA on prisoners file
ANG 19.
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