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Si. S. Tanks. M: Royley Mr Wilford
CONFIDENTIAL
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Sino-British relations
in the context of Hong Kong F. E. Dept
५
H.K..
A R2319.
So long as Mr. Grey was detained in Peking by the Chinese there was a clear link - established by the Chinese themselves between
him and the imprisoned newsworkers in Hong Kong. Their cases were, of course, dissimilar. With the release of Mr. Grey the Chinese
did not seek at first to establish links between the other British
subjects detained in China and the remaining convicted prisoners
in Hong Kong. In answer to P.Q.s we said more than once that no
such link existed. Nevertheless we were well aware that the
Chinese had an interest in the convicted "confrontation" prisoners
and that they might seek to bargain detained British subjects against
them privately if not publicly.
2.
-
Since March 1970 the Chinese in official conversations have
made it absolutely clear that they do see such a link. They have done this both in Peking and in London. Recently the Chinese
Chargé d'Affaires said it to the Secretary of State. We cannot
therefore continue to speak in Parliament as if we were unaware of the Chinese position.
3. There is also to be taken into consideration the fact that
the Chinese have since Mr. Grey's release also made a number of
other gestures. They have released Messrs. Barrymaine, Will and McBain, Mrs. Martin and the Gordon family. They also released Mr. Watt. Although arrested in September 1967 he was not sentenced to 3 years imprisonment until March 1968. His release in July 1970 therefore represented something of a gesture, though in English law
and assuming good conduct he could have earned his release a good deal earlier. The Chinese now hold two prisoners to whose
release we attach particular importance, neither of whom have been charged with any offence, but whom we are told have broken Chinese
law. These are
In addition there is
the British wife of a Chinese, and three other British subjects
/working
CONFIDENTIAL