ف المادية
Hong Kong authorities are constantly forbearing
from taking action against the communist press despite
the frequent publication by the latter of material
which is seditious or otherwise unlawful.
(d) Expulsion of confrontation prisoners to China
This of course remains the ideal solution of the
question of "confrontation" prisoners in Hong Kong.
But unfortunately the Chinese have made it clear
repeatedly that they are not prepared to have prisoners
expelled from Hong Kong to China. There is no sign
that they will change their mind in the foreseeable
future.
(e) Public Confidence
}
We share the Governor's view that the maintenance of
public confidence in Hong Kong remains a paramount
consideration and that we must always leave ourselves
a margin for safety in this respect. The Governor may
well be right that we have gone as far as we can in the
interests of Ir. Grey (although it should be noted that
the only concessions that have been made in Mr. Grey's
interest have been limited to three rounds of "special
visits" to the newsworkers imprisoned in Hong Kong and
the arrangement, through the Board of Review, of a
reduction in the sentence of Wong Chak to bring his date
of release into line with that of the other ten newsworkers).
However, I am sure that what is really bothering the
Governor is the anxiety that once the case of Mr. Grey
6 -
SECRET