FCO 21 488 Detention of Anthony Grey

PART I

Tiper:

FILE No

DO NOT RETAIN FILES AND PAPERS UNNECESSARILY

STAMP

YEAR

1963/9

RETURN THEM TO REGISTRY FOR B.U. OR P.A.

"דווור-

JAČA Emlakı

mcket mer be the names or that of the Eighest graded agh ved sehen ever
necessey.j

SECRET

in It.

Contents checked

for transfer to

(5gd.).

Date

D.R.O.

DEPT.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH

OFFICE

FAR

FILE NO. FEC 139/1

TITLE: CHA

REFER TO

NAME

(and dept. when necessary)

WW.

TO SEE:

DATE

1541

Детентной

HIMIINIILILL

ויי וייוויי וורוד

EASTERN

THON OF

REFER TO

NAME

(and dept when nonsta de

MIL

(Part) 877-985 Датному. Grey

ייוי

102 ER TO

Basin

DATE

NAME

SEE:

(and dept when necessary)

TO SEE:

DATE

187

Reguty

POT

|Co

יחו וחירווזיווnnn

IVIWILWEL.

...by

ال

1881-894 &

مال

ко Registry.

100

का

----

'IPI

ANIA

(A&... The grader of

וחי

? *

CHA

ma cittadini

SEE

-‒‒‒‒~‒AIAMINII|IILIA‒‒‒‒‒‒‒▬▬▬▬▬▬▬IIIIILU/

SECRET

*==========

PIILLI..

MAIRIE..

10.141

ITY

CLOSED

UNTIL

2000

--..

Registry Address

Room No. 21

King Cha

tredk

วน,

Hןיװ

YEAR STAMP

יווידוי

1..110

וחיה

Farba kva

I dan ku

------------

TO BE RETAINED AS TOP ENCLOSURE

Cabinet Documents

Folio

No.

Reference

(cc (69) 33rd Mhg

889

Extract from ☺C (69) 33id

Date

16.7.69

The above-listed cabinet document(s), which was/were enclosed on this
file, has/have been removed and destroyed.

For complete series of Cabinet documents see CAB (CABINET OFFICE)
CLASSES

Signed

Hinges

Date 28.1.99

CLOSED

Reference...

PART "K."

SEE

NOW

[

An Mumay

Mr. W

Reference......

the form about doon campsen's travel aurang en onts whow as forous. For
:-

985

(c) KANA PHONAH PENH he must make an applicabar for m uša atresora mouth
in advance of the proposed stay. He should apply to the Cambodian
Eusbasse (rel. 722-8807) - 26 Townshend Rd. w.w.8.- and prescur 2
passport photographs, a vacination certificate for Cholera & Smaupox,
his passport, anot, preferably, an airhug ticket. He wili hame to
completic 2 application forms, and word absolutely have to play down muy
connection with the press! sunce. evidently, reporters cannot go to
Cambodia. This might vary well mean that his particulavappucanui would
be subject to considerable delays.

KARACIM/DACCA: he merely needs vaconiatui

centifrates.

(r) Moscow: there are several ways he comed

appench this one

(i) he could apply for a tomisie vša 4 therofae make the muat
awangqquents with Intonvitt, at the game Ruie perhaps maizing an attqupt
I to hold open the optar of an extenhai to thi

stay.

I he comer apply for a journalisti uza, I wish would entitle hum to Ĉ) a
more protractedt stay, if that weve recessary, and for press facilities
in Moscow.

() Mr. Campben wonid be wel achized go to the Soviet Embassy comentar
Section and tasse to a Mr. KUZNETSOV (Deputy Chief of the Confrear
section) - a

- a contact oiven me by FFS.D. - who, apparently, is likely to me
helppar (particularly given the facts of this case). Kuznetsov wond
advise uw. Campbell mthe appropriate actiui to take, and for make
arrangement with infomist on M. Campobelt behalf.

Firaun EESD strongly recommend that we waxa adriše Moscow abovu
Campbellt

mait y

it gelum ni awn way

Muu mieur.

18 fik.

Play A

of the flights out of Shanghai the PIA flights seem to present the least
problém from the visa point of view. Phnom Penh, which is the
intermediate stop before Karachi on the Air France flight, clearly will
present visa difficulties for a journalist. One must expect too that
when it is known that Grey has been released the press will be examining
every passenger list out of China and would endeavour to board the plane
in Phnom Penh to have an interview with Grey. It would be essential
therefore for Mr. Campbell to meet Grey at this point if he came on this
flight. If we have any choice in the matter therefore we should try and
put Grey on one of the PIA flights,

2. On the other hand we must be prepared for the Chinese to deport Grey
by the Air France flight.

Mr. Campbell ought perhaps at least to make an attempt to get a visa for
Cambodia in case this happens.

luation

(C. Wilson)

18 September, 1969

Confidential

James Murray Esq CMG

Head of Far Eastern Department Foreign & Commonwealth Office LONDON

REUTERS

16 September 1969

to discuss all item

will the Comfball

23 Saf.

Mr Wilson

2/ 3.30

I hear sch

p...

Reuters Limited 85 Fleet Street London EC4 Telephone Fleet Street 6060
Telex 24145

Dear Mr Murray

22 23/7

Thank you for passing on the views of the Governor of Hong Kong and Mr
Denson about Mr Grey's route out of China.

Our sole concern is to do what is best in the interests

For of Mr Grey. It is difficult to know what is best. the last year we
have been thinking and planning in terms of Hong Kong, realising all the
while that the Chinese might decide to make exit facilities available
elsewhere.

If the Chinese do not decide the route and Mr Grey has a choice we want
him to feel free to exercise that choice.

In no circumstances can we accept that his departure should be held up
one hour longer than necessary for reasons other than his own well
being.

We attach importance to being able to meet him at his first point of
exit. This could be complicated if it happened to be Moscow or Phnom
Penh.

I am grateful to you for keeping us so well informed,

Yours sincerely,

Your Campbell

Doon Campbell

484

983

CYPHER/CAT A

PRIORITY HONG KONG TO

TELNO 764

CONFIDENTIAL

призора do

зора

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

27 SEPTEMBER 1969

ADDRESSED TO F.C.O. TELEGRAM NO. 764 OF

REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING

982

YOUR TELNO. 654 GREY.

RE EIV D IN

RIS SEPTEMBER

29 SEP 1969

FEL 12/1

WE RECOGNISE THAT GREY MIGHT HAVE TO COME THROUGH HONG KONG IF

FOR EXAMPLE HE EXPRESSES A STRONG DESIRE TO DO SO BUT WE STILL HOPE

THAT THAT IT COULD BE AVOIDED.

2. THE ARGUMENTS IN PARA. 2 OF YOUR TELEGRAM ARE NOT CONCLUSIVE.

SOME ARE LESS PERSUASIVE NOW THAT IT SEEMS POSSIBLE THERE WILL BE

SOME DELAY BETWEEN GREY'S RELEASE IN PEKING AND HIS LEAVING CHINA

(PEKING TELEGRAM NO. 552 TO YOU).

3. WE HOPE LONG WILL TAKE ACCOUNT OF THIS GOVERNMENT'S PREFERENCE

FOR AVOIDING HONG KONG. POLITICAL ADVISER HAS SAID FRANKLY TO

ROUND OF REUTERS THAT IF GREY DOES CRITICISE THIS GOVERNMENT

OR H.M.G. IT WOULD BE BETTER OUTSIDE HONG KONG.

4. IF LONG IS UNMOVED WE WONDER WHETHER IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE

TO AVOID THE CLEAR CHOICE SET OUT IN PARA. 5 OF YOUR TELEGRAM

UNDER REFERENCE BY LEAVING GREATER DISCRETION TO DENSON TO ADVISE

GREY IN THE LIGHT OF GREY'S CONDITION AND OTHER FACTORS AT THE

TIME SUCH AS THE INTERVAL BETWEEN RELEASE FROM HIS HOUSE AND

DEPARTURE FROM CHINA.

POSITIVELY TO ADVISE GREY TO GO THROUGH

HONG KONG SEEMS TO BE TOO GREAT A CONCESSION TO REUTERS. IT WOULD

BE WRONG TO ENCOURAGE HOPES THAT ALL WOULD GO SMOOTHLY HERE THOUGH

IF THE OCCASION AROSE WE WOULD DO ALL WE COULD.

FCO PLEASE PASS ROUTINE PEKING.

SIR D. TRENCH

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.E.D.

CONSULAR DEPT.

H.K. DEPT.

NEWS DEPT.

CONFIDENTIAL

FFFFF

982

CYPHER/CAT A

CONFIDENTIAL

IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELEGRAM NUMBER 654

TOP COPY

гризла

TO HONG KONG 26 SEPTEMBER 1969

(FED)

FEC 120/1

CONFIDENTIAL

ADDRESSED TO HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 654 OF 26 SEPTEMBER REPEATED FOR
INFORMATION TO PEKING,

1963

YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 720 OF 12 SEPTEMBER:

ANTHONY GREY.

WE HAVE DONE OUR BEST TO PERSUADE REUTERS THAT IT WOULD BE BEST THAT
GREY SHOULD BY-PASS HONG KONG. THEY ARE INSISTING, HOWEVER, THAT HE
SHOULD BE TOLD THAT WHILE IT IS FOR HIM TO DECIDE WHICH ROUTE TO TAKE
THEY ADVISE HIM TO COME OUT VIA HONG KONG AND HAVE MADE RECEPTION
ARRANGEMENTS THERE.

2. THE ARGUMENTS THEY DEPLOY ARE THESE.

(A) IN HONG KONG THEY CAN BE REASONABLY CONFIDENT THAT THEIR
ARRANGEMENTS TO MEET GREY AND ESCORT HIM TO LONDON WOULD WORK.
ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS, WHEREBY A REUTERS REPRESENTATIVE WOULD JOIN
GREY'S AIRCRAFT AT SOME INTERMEDIATE POINT COULD MORE EASILY

GO WRONG.

(B) IN HONG KONG THEY COULD MOST EFFECTIVELY LOOK AFTER GREY'S WELFARE,
E.G, BY ENSURING ADEQUATE MEDICAL AND REST FACILITIES DURING WHAT WOULD
BE A BRIEF SOJOURN THERE.

(C) THEY COULD WITH YOUR ASSISTANCE MORE EFFECTIVELY CONTROL HIS
CONTACTS WITH THE PRESS THERE THAN ELSEWHERE. THE FORMAL PRESS
CONFERENCE COULD BE KEPT QUITE SHORT.

/(D)

CONFIDENTIAL

-2-

]

(D) AT A PRESS CONFERENCE ORGANISED BY THEM IN HONG KONG IT WOULD BE
EASIER TO HELP HIM AVOID PITFALLS THAN IF HIS FIRST CONTACTS WITH THE
PRESS AFTER LEAVING CHINA WERE IN MORE DISORGANIZED CIRCUMSTANCES IN
E.G. CAMBODIA OR PAKISTAN.

(E) HAVING READ ALL HIS RECENT CORRESPONDENCE WITH HIS MOTHER THEY ARE
CONVINCED THAT HE IS IN A VERY BALANCED AND INDEED GOOD-HUMGURED FRAME
OF MIND AND THAT HE WOULD BEHAVE ACCORDINGLY IN HONG KONG.

(F) ONCE HE HAD GIVEN A PRESS CONFERENCE IN HONG KONG HE WOULD BE LESS
HARASSED BY THE PRESS FOR THE REMAINDER OF HIS JOURNEY.

(G) A LONG FLIGHT SUCH AS WOULD BE THE CASE ON THE ALTERNATIVE ROUTES
WOULD BE A BAD PREPARATION FOR THE ORDEAL OF HIS FIRST CONTACT WITH THE
OUTSIDE WORLD.

3. WE MUST GIVE REUTERS THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT THAT THEIR PRIMARY
INTEREST IN ALL THIS IS, AS THEY INSIST GREY'S WELFARE, BUT NO DOUBT
THEY ARE IMPRESSED FROM A PROFESSIONAL POINT OF VIEW BY THE ADVANTAGES
WHICH HONG KONG WOULD GIVE THEM FOR CONTROLLING THE STORY'' AND
FORESTALLING COMPETITION.

4. WE HAVE REITERATED THE OBJECTIONS TO DEPARTURE VIA HONG KONG.

(A) GREY WOULD BE OF MUCH MORE DIRECT LOCAL INTEREST IN HONG KONG THAN
AT OTHER INTERMEDIATE POINTS, AND THE INTENSIVE AND CONTROVERSIAL PRESS
ATTENTION TO HIM WOULD BE BOUND TO IMPOSE A CONSIDERABLE STRAIN.

(B) THE COMMUNIST PRESS AND OTHERS MIGHT WELL TRY TO EXPLOIT HIS

PRESENCE IN THE COLONY FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES AND EVEN IF GREY

WERE DISCREET IN HIS REPLIES TO WHAT MIGHT WELL INCLUDE ''LOADED'' AND
UNHELPFUL QUESTIONS, THERE WOULD BE NO WAY OF CONTROLLING WHAT WOULD BE
WRITTEN. IT WOULD HARDLY BE IN THE INTERESTS OF GREY'S

WELL-BEING TO EXPOSE HIM TO THIS KIND OF ORDEAL.

CONFIDENTIAL

/(c)

CONFIDENTIAL

FCO TELEGRAM NO.654 TO HONG KONG

-3-

(C) THE CHINESE ARE PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE TO ANYTHING SAID IN HONG KONG
ABOUT THEIR POLICIES, AND MIGHT WELL REACT TO ANY REMARKS MADE BY GREY
IN A MANNER PREJUDICIAL TO THE INTERESTS OF OTHER BRITISH SUBJECTS STILL
DETAINED IN CHINA.

(WE HAVE THOUGHT IT BEST NOT TO REFER EXPLICITLY TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT
GREY MIGHT SAY THINGS CRITICAL OF H.M.G. OR THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES,
SINCE THIS ARGUMENT IS UNLIKELY TO IMPRESS REUTERS). WE HAVE ALSO
SUGGESTED THAT MOST OF THE DISADVANTAGES OF THE OTHER ROUTES COULD BE
OVERCOME IF A MEMBER OF OUR MISSION IN PEKING WERE TO ACCOMPANY GREY TO
THE POINT AT WHICH HE IS MET BY A REPRESENTATIVE OF REUTERS,

5. WE INTEND TO MAKE A FINAL EFFORT WITH LONG, THE GENERAL MANAGER OF
REUTERS, WHEN HE RETURNS FROM LEAVE ON 29 SEPTEMBER. IF WE FAIL TO MOVE
HIM, WE SHALL BE FACED WITH A CHOICE OF TELLING REUTERS EITHER

(A) THAT WE AGREE TO ADVISE GREY TO COME THROUGH HONG KONG AND WILL DO
OUR BEST WITH THEM TO ENSURE THAT ALL GOES SMOOTHLY: OR

(B) THAT WE CONSIDER THAT, IN VIEW OF OUR OWN RESPONSIBILITIES FOR GREY
AND MORE GENERALLY, WE MUST, WHILE LEAVING THE FINAL CHOICE TO HIM,
ADVISE HIM TO RETURN VIA PAKISTAN.

6. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL AGREE THAT WE MUST IF AT ALL POSSIBLE AVOID
COURSE (B). DESPITE DIFFICULT MOMENTS, WE HAVE MANAGED TO KEEP REUTERS
IN STEP WITH US THROUGHOUT THIS DIFFICULT CASE. IT WOULD BE UNFORTUNATE
IF WE WERE TO HAVE AN OPEN DISAGREEMENT WITH THEM AT THE FINAL STAGE.
INDEED, IT MIGHT STIMULATE THEM INTO THE VERY KIND OF CONTROVERSY ABOUT
THE WHOLE HANDLING OF THE AFFAIR WHICH WE HOPE TO AVOID. IF DESPITE OUR
ARGUMENTS LONG REMAINS ADAMANT, WE THINK WE SHOULD HAVE TO ACQUIESCE ON
THE LINES OF (A) ABOVE? WE SHOULD HOWEVER BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS
URGENTLY.

STEWART

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.E.D.

H.K.D.

CONS DEPT.

NEWS DEPT.

CONFIDENTTAT.

Registry No. F

DEPARTMENT

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

PRIORITY MARKINGS

(Date)...........

Top Sogret 26/9

Despatched

Flash-

• Date and time (G.M.T.) celegram should

reach addresson(s).

2619

I LIL

CYPHER

STIE

------

CONFIDENTIAL

In Confidence-

PRIVACY MARKING

[Secu

Security classification]

[

Privacy marking -if any

[Codeword-if any]

En Clair

Cypher

Draft Telegram to:-

Home

ONG KONG No. 654

HONG KONG

Addressed to

telegram No..

654 (date)

26 Sept

Anduto.

(Date) repeated for information to

And to:-

Repeat to:-

PEKING.

Saving to:-

Saving-to

PEKING

Your telegram No.72. [of 2 Septembe

Anthony Grey.

We have done our best to persuade Reuters that it would be best that
Grey should by-pass Hong Kong.

They are insisting, however, that he should be told

that while it is for him to decide which route to take

they advise him to come out via Hong Kong and have

Lade reception arrangements there.

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Distribution:- Jefatuatel

6.D. 4.A.3.

The arguments they deploy are these.

(a)

In Hong Kong they can be reasonably confident

(* want Frey and escut him to London that their resestion frangemen
is/would work. Alternative arrangements, whereby

a hentais voluntative would it any other intermédi

is the pick join Grey's miraffe at some that they might sico ovey
intimnestenta point conte mat sorily go wrong,

mien-örey

confet

In Hong Kong they e most effectively look after

Grey's welfare, e.g. by ensuring adequate medical

and rest facilities during what would be a brief

sojourn there.

with your assistance

tore

Consular Box"

(b)

Naam Duft

Copies to:-

/effectivley

Art

CONFIDENTIAL

effectively control his contacts with the

there than elsewhere. The formal press

conference could be kept quite short.

(d) At a press conference organised by them in

press

avoiel

Hong Kong it would be easier to help his ear

pitfalls

دالت

right thing than if his first contacts

with the press after leaving China were in

me.g. Cambodia or Pakistan.

disolierarzet)

revere disorganized circumsta

(e) Having read all his recent correspondence with

his mother they are convinced that he is in a

very balanced and indeed good-humoured frame

would

of kind and that he wilt behave accordingly

in Hong Kong.

(f) Once he had given a press conference in Hong

Kong he would be less harassed by the pres8

for the remainder of his journey.

(g) A long flight such as would be the case on the

alternative routes would be a bad preparation

for the ordeal of his first contact with the

outside world.

3. We must give Reuters the benefit of the doubt as they insist that
their primary interest in all this is/rey's

welfare; but no doubt they are impressed from a

professional point of view by the advantages which

Hong Kong would give them for controlling "the story"

and forestalling competion.

0377 17 E.W.& S., L. 164m 3/67.

4./

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

VEEL STINKE

Kong.

Depicule VIA defrandum via

We have reiterated the objections to Hong

(a) Grey would be of much more direct

local interest in Hong Kong than at

other intermediate points, and the

intensive and controversial press attention

intepeat in him would be bound to

impose a considerable strain.

The

(b)/Communist press and others might

well try to exploit his presence in

the colony for political purposes; and

even if Grey were discreet in his

knight

replies to what may well include

"loaded" and unhelpful questions,

there would be no way of controlling

what would be written. It would

hardly be in the interests of Grey's

well-being to expose him to this kind

of ordeal

sensitive to anything said in Hong

Kong about their policies, and might

well react to any remarks made by Grey

internets

in a manner prejudicial to the wolfare

of other British subjects still detained

in China.

We have thought it best not to refer explicitly

to the possibility that Grey might say things critical of

sanpassing to HMO or the Hong Kong authorities,

Share This Page