HIN BEFORE THE SENTENCE WAS SERVED. CONTACT CLAIMS THAT HE
IMMEDIATELY POINTED OUT TO LI THAT THAT WAS PRECISELY THE
PROBLEM WHICH CONFRONTED US.
7. CONTACT COMMENTED ON HIS DISCUSSION WITH LI TO THE EFFECT THAT LI HAD
OBVIOUSLY RECEIVED SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS TO DE-ESCALATE THE SITUATION IN
HONG KONG. IN CONTACT'S VIEW, PEKING WANTED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT GREY
BUT FOUND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO 'DISMOUNT". CONTACT THOUGHT IT MOST
DESIRABLE THAT SOME KIND OF OFFER SHOULD BE MADE TO PEKING, EVEN IF IT
WERE ONLY THE OFFER OF TWO OR THREE
REVSVORKERS AND EVEN IF IT WERE NECESSARY TO INVENT REASONS FOR
RELEASING THEM,
6. CATER WENT OVER OUR POSITION AGAIN AND THEN SUGGESTED AS HIS OWN
PERSONAL OPINION THAT A POSSIBLE COMPROVISE
POSSIBLE COMPROMISE MIGHT BE TO RELEASE
SOME OF THE NEWSWORKERS TO CHINA UNTIL THE EXPIRY OF THEIR SENTENCES.
CONTACT REACTED IMMEDIATELY AND ENTHUSIASTICALLY TO THIS
SUGGESTION, BUT CONSIDERED IT IMPORTANT THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERN- MENT
SHOULD BE IN A POSITION OF MAKING A PROPOSAL. HE THOUGHT IT LIKELY THAT
PEKING WOULD ACCEPT SUCH A COMPROMISE, AND EVEN IF THEY
TOP SECRET
/WERE
+
T
1
TOP SECRET
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO, 27 TO FCO
5-
VERE UNWILLING TO DISCUSS IT, AT LEAST THE PRESSURE WOULD HAVE BEEN
PUT ON THEM. HE SUGGESTED THAT WE SHOULD NOT OFFER ALL 11 AT FIRST
AND WE SHOULD GIVE NO IMPRESSION THAT IT WAS EASY TO ARRANGE. HE
FURTHER SUGGESTED THAT THE PROPOSAL SHOULD BE PUT AS THOUGH IT
CAME FROM HIM WITH THE IDEA THAT HE COULD THEN APPROACH THE HONG
KONG GOVERNMENT THROUGH CATER TO SEE IF WE WERE PREPARED TO CO-
OPERATE. CATER DID NOT REMIND CONTACT OF THE EARLIER, RATHER
DISCOURAGING HISTORY OF RELEASING TO CHINA', HE SAID THAT THERE
MIGHT BE SERIOUS LEGAL OBJECTIONS ON OUR SIDE BUT THAT HE WOULD
TRY TO OBTAIN THE REACTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT WITHIN A FEW DAYS,
FCO PLEASE PASS PRIORITY TO PEKING.
SIR D. TRENCH
FILES
FAR EASTERN DEPT.
P.S. TO LORD SHEPHERD
SIR A. GALSWORTHY
MR. MORETON
HONG KONG DEPT.
P.U.S.D.
PRIVATE SECRETARY
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED/
тор
SECRET
NNNNN
288
in Dept.
+
TOP COPY TOP SECRET
CYPHER/CAT A
HONG KONG TO PEKING
TELNO 6
10 JANUARY, 1969
TOP SECRET
RECEIVED I
ARCHIVES No.31
13 JAN 1969
FEC1 3C/1
ADDRESSED PEKING AS HYT-L NO. 6 OF 19TH JANUARY.
M.1.P.T.
INTELLIGENCE FRUM DELICATE SOURCES.
13.
COPY NO:
1
289
ра
IN OCTOBER 1968, A REPORT FROM A COMPLETELY RELIABLE
AND DELICATE SPECIAL BRANCH SOURCе GAVE STRONG INDICATION
THAT THE C.P.G. WAS CONSIDERING The EARLY RELEASE OF GREY
AND WAS PREPARING LOCAL COMMUNIST CIRCLES FOR THIS EVENTUALITY.
ON THE 9TH OCTOаck, AT A MEETING OF SENIOR OFFICIALS IN
COMMUNIST FILM CIRCLES, AN N.C.N.A. OFFICIAL OUTLINED
A DIRECTIVE REPORTEDLY GIVEN BY CHOU EN LAI TO A HONG KONG
DELEGATION WHICH HAD VISITED PEKING ALTHOUGH NO DATE WAS
GIVEN FOR THE DIRECTIVE IT WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN PASSED
OVER IN THE LATTER HALF OF SEPTEMBER. THE DIRECTIVE, WHICH
DEALT WITH THE GENERAL CONDUCT OF CHINESE COMMUNIST AFFAIRS
IN HONG KONG, MADE REFERENCE TO GREY, STATING HIS RELEASE
WOULD IN NO WAY AFFECT The HONG KUNG STRUGGLE. IT STRESSED
THAT THE PRESENT SITUATION WAS NUKE PAVOURABLE TO SINO-BRITISH
RELATIONS AND NOTHING SHOULD STAND IN THE WAY COF FURTHER
IMPROVEMENT). IT WAS EMPHASISED THAT THE ESSENCE OF THIS DIRECTIVE
SHOULD be DISSEMINATED TO THE COMMUNIST LOVSK
¿Chaluns d¥ lhe 24TH OCTOBER, A SIGNIFICAT DATE IN THAT AN ERKONCLUS
BELIEF WAS WIJELY HELD IN HONG KONG AT THE TIME
THAT HSUEH PING WAS SCHEDULED FOR RELEASE FROM PRISON ON THE
19TH OCTOBER.
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/14. A MORE
14.
TOP SECRET
-2-
A MORE DETAILED INSIGHT INTO THE CONTENTS OF THE CHOU EN LAI -`
DIRECTIVE WAS OBTAINED ON 17TH OCTOBER WHEN THE SAME N.C.N.A.
OFFICIAL GAVE A LENGTHY BRIEFING ON ITS CONTENTS TO A GROUP OF SENIOR
LOCAL COMMUNISTS. IN REFERRING TO GREY HE CLAIMED THAT
"HIS RELEASE WOULD HAVE NO EFFECT ON THE PROLETARIAN WORLD REVOLUTISH
BUT, ON THE OTHER HAND, IF HE WAS NOT RELEASED IT WOULD BE DIFFICUL TO
CARRY ON THE STRUGGLE IN HONG KONG". HE DID NOT EXPLAIN THIS
POINT BUT WENT ON TO SAY THAT "THE HONG KONG STRUGGLE MUST NOT BE
ALLOWED TO INTERFERE WITH THE FOREIGN POLICY OF CHINA WHICH INCLUDED THE
RELEASE OF GREY".
15.
ON THE 21ST NOVEMBER, AT A MEETING OF SENIOR OFFICIALS IN LOCAL
PUBLISHING CIRCLES IT WAS SAID THAT "AFTER CAREFUL ASSESS- MENT PEKING
HAD CONCLUDED THAT GREY'S RELEASE WOULD NOT AFFECT CHINA'S OVERALL
POLICY BUT COMPATRIOTS (IN HONG KONG) MUST NOT EXPECT THE RELEASE OF
CONFRONTATION PRISONERS IN RECIPROCATION". A WEEK LATER
THE SAME OFFICIALS ADMITTED THAT THE CONTINUED DETENTION OF GREY WAS NOW
THE MAIN ISSUE (BETWEEN CHINA AND BRITAIN); IT WAS STATED THAT PEKING
HAD REJECTED BRITAIN'S PROTESTS ABOUT GREY'S DETENTION
AND SAID THAT EVEN IF GREY WAS RELEASED THE HONG KONG GOVERMENT
WOULD NOT RELEASE DETAINEES OR JOURNALISTS.
16.
THE NEXT MOVE OF SIGNIFICANCE CAME ON 10TH DECEMBER
WHEN THE OFFICIAL IN CHARGE OF COMMUNIST PUBLISHING CIRCLES BRIEFED
HIS SUBORDINATES ON A MASSIVE PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN WHICH, APPARENTLY,
LOCAL COMMUNISTS HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED BY PEKING TO LAUNCH AS A COUNTER
TO THE WESTERN PUBLICITY ABOUT THE CONDITIONS OF GREY'S DETENTION
IN PEKING. THIS CAMPAIGN, WHICH WAS TO CONCENTRATE ON ALLEGED
MALTREATMENT OF DETAINEES/PRISONERS IN HONG KONG AND DEMAND THEIR
RELEASE, WAS LAUNCHED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AND IS STILL CONTINUING.
ITS HIGH-POINT WAS THE PRESS CONFERENCE GIVEN BY FAI YI MAN (PARAGRAPH 8
REFERS). IT IS OF ESPECIAL INTEREST THAT IT WAS EMPHASIZED THAT THE
CAMPAIGN SHOULD NOT, IN ANY WAY, RELATE THE RELEASE OF GREY TO THE
RELEASE OF DETAINEES/PRISONERS IN HÙNG KONG
INDICATING, PERHAPS, THAT THE C.P.G. DID NOT WISH TO BE PLACED IN A
POSITION WHICH WOULD LEAVE NO ROOM FOR MANOEUVRE.
17.
THE LATEST INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM DELICATE AND SECRET
SOURCES RELATING TO (REY CONCERNS A CONVERSATION ON 23RD DECEMBER
BETWEEN FAI YI MAN AND LEUNG WAI LAM, DIRECTOR OF THE HONG KONG
BRANCH OF THE N.C.N.A. IN WHICH FAI ADMITTED GREY'S DETENTION HAD BEEN
AN ERROR OF JUDGEMENT; IT HAD BEEN THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD PREVENT THE
HONG KONG AUTHORITIES FROM ARRESTING OTHER "COMPATRIOTS"
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/IN
TOP SECRET
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO.6 TO PEKING
-3-
IN HONG KONG. IT WAS APPARENT FROM THE CONVERSATION,
HICH WAS VIRTUALLY A MOROLOGUE BY FA1, THAT FAI DID NOT HAVE
ANY IDEA AS TO CURRENT THINKING AND ACTIONS ÎN PEKING.
AT ONE STAGE HE SAID THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WAS TRYING TO CREATE
A... ATMOSPHERE FAVOUkaBLE TO GREY'S RELEASE AND
HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT HE THOUGHT NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE
BRITISH AND THE 1.F.A. MUST de TAKING PLACE IN PEKING.
LEUNG DID NOT COMMENT UN THESE OØSERVATIONS WHICH, IT IS
SIGNIFICANT, WERE MADE ON THE SAME DAY AS Fal S INTERVIEW
WITH THE A.F.P. CORRESPONDENT (Sec PakaGRAPH 8).
27. GREY'S DETENTION IN PEKING MUST BE VIEWED AGAINST THE CANVAS OF
OVERALL C.P.G. FOREIGN POLICY SENICOLON THIS WAS MADE VERY CLEAR IN
Trie DIRECTIVE FROM CHOU EN-LAT. IT IS NECESSARY THEREFORE TO EXAMINE
THE PRESENT COMMUNIST THINKING IN REGARD TO HONG KONG SEMICOLON
THIS, BASED ON INTELLIGENCE FROM RELIABLE SOURCES, CAN BE SUMMED
UP AS FOLLOWS :-
·
(A) LOCAL COMMUNISTS PURSUED BLUNDERING TACTICS IN 1967. THEY MUST
DESIST FROM THESE TACTICS AND CONTINUE THE STRUGGLE BY DIFFERENT
MEANS ENTIRELY.
!
BE
(B) AS A FIRST AIM THEY MUST WIN OVER THE SUPPURI OF 'THE 70%
UNCOMMITTEO PEOPLE' IN HONG KONG BY FLEXIBLE APPLICATION OF THE
TEACHING OF NAO, BY WINNING WHATEVER THEY CAN IN NEGOTIATIONS OVER
MINOK 133ULS, BY REALISTICALLY EXPLOITING SITUATIONS AS THEY ARISE
TO THE FULLEST PRACTICAOLE EXTENT AND, OF COURSE, BY PROPAGANDA
AND EDUCATION.
(C) THEY CAN EXPECT NO MATERIAL SUPPORT IN THEIR STRUGGLE FROM
PEKING SEMICOLON THERE IS NO INTENTION OF TAKING OVER HONG KONG
AT THE PRESENT TIME.
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/(D) EVENTS
TOP SECRET
-4-
Γ
(D) EVENTS IN HONG KONG HUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO INTERFERE WITH OR
AFFECT PEKING'S FOREIGN POLICY PLANS AND FOREIGN RELATIONS,
INCLUDING RELATIONS WITH BRITAIN. ALL RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN
COUNTRIES WILL BE DIRECTED FROM PEKING AND ALL ACTIONS SUBORDINATED
TO OVERALL POLICY.
(±) NO SUGGESTION MUST BE MADE THAT GREY'S RELEASE IS SPECIFICALLY
LINKED WITH THE RELEASE OF THE DETAINEES, THE NEWS WORKERS OR
ANYTHING ELSE. THE SITUATION MUST BE LEFT FLUID, TO ENABLE PEKING
TO DEAL WITH GREY AS BEST SUITS THEIR FOREIGN POLICY.
FCO PLEASE PASS PEKING.
SIR D.TRENCH
FILES
F.E.D.
P.S. TO LORD SHEPHERD
SIR A.GALSWORTHY
MR. MORETON
H.K.D.
P.U.S.D.
PRIVATE SECRETARY
(PASSED AS REQUESTED]
1
TOP SECRET
1
T'O.P
CYPHER/CAT A
ROUTINE HONG KONG
TO
TELNO. 230
TOP SECRET
[Top copy (N°2) W. My hurray
SECRET
34
COPY NO,
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
17 MARCH 1969
192
ADDRESSED F C O TELNO 230 OF 17 MARCH RFI PEKING
GREY.
IN THE COURSE OF A LONG MEETING WITH HIS IMMEDIATE SUBORDINATES,
HELD ON 7 MARCH TO CONSIDER THE DETAILED IMPLEMENTATION OF
CURRENT COMMUNIST POLICIES IN HONG KONG, THE SENIOR COMMUNIST
IN LOCAL PUBLISHING CIRCLES DWELT AT SOME LENGTH ON THE DETENTION
OF GREY. THIS IS THE FIRST RELIABLE LOCAL INTELLIGENCE WE
HAVE HAD ABOUT GREY SINCE THE DISCUSSION HERE OF A DIRECTIVE
LAST OCTOBER (MY TELEGRAM 2124 OF 28 OCTOBER)
2. SPEAKING OF THE NEED FOR LOCAL ACTIVITY TO BE SEEN IN THE
CONTEXT OF OVERALL CHINESE PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT POLICY, AND THE
ABSENCE OF ANY PHYSICAL ASSISTANCE FROM CHINA FOR LOCAL COMMUNISTS,
THE OFFICIAL SAID THAT GREY'S DETENTION HAD BEEN A SOURCE OF
TREMENDOUS ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE ''MASSES'', IT HAS SHOWN
THAT FOREIGNERS COULD NOT DO AS THEY LIKED IN CHINA, AND IT HAD
DEMONSTRATED LOCAL COMMUNIST UNITY' (BETWEEN HONG KONG AND
CHINA?). APPARENTLY CLAIMING THAT GREY'S DETENTION WAS AT THE
INSTIGATION OF LOCAL COMMUNISTS, HE DECLARED "OUR REQUEST HAD BEEN
ENTERTAINED BY THE MOTHER COUNTRY... AND EYE FOR AN EYE,
THAT'S WHAT WE WANT''. THE SPEAKER THEN ALLUDED TO GREY'S
DISTRESS AT BEING TOLD BY THE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES THAT THE LAST
RELEASE DATE FOR THE CHINESE (JOURNALISTS?) IMPRISONED
IN HONG KONG WAS IN 1971. GREY, HE CLAIMED, HAD COMPLAINED BITTERLY AND
WANTED THEM ALL RELEASED RIGHT NOW''.
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/3. -THE
TOP
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2
3.
THE BRITISH HAD THOUGHT (WRONGLY) THAT THE RELEASE OF
A FEW PRISONERS WOULD RESULT IN GREY'S RELEASE (I.E. THOSE
NEWSPAPER WORKERS ARRESTED AT THE TIME OF GREY'S ARREST?). HOWEVER,
ALTHOUGH THE CHINESE WERE INDIFFERENT TO GREY'S FEELING? AND NOT UNDULY
BOTHERED ABOUT THE SITUATION, IT WAS ''QUITE PROBABLE'' THE SPEAKER
CONTINUED, THAT A BRITISH PROPOSAL FOR
A SWAP MIGHT BE 'WORKABLE BUT, BEFORE THEY RELEASED GREY, THE CHINESE
WOULD FIRST INSIST THAT ALL LOCALLY DETAINED COMMUNISTS
**WE WILL SWAP ONE OF THEM FOR (JOURNALISTS?) WERE RELEASED.
MANY OF US. THAT WILL BE OUR VICTORY'' HE DECLARED.
''WE
WILL NEVER CONSENT TO THE RELEASE OF GREY FOR ONLY A FEW OF
US HERE.''
4.
OBSERVING THAT BRITAIN WANTED TO IMPROVE
RELATIONS WITH CHINA, PARTICULARLY IN THE COMMERCIAL FIELD,
THE SPEAKER REITERATED THAT THE CHINESE WERE INDIFFERENT SEMICOLON IF
THERE WAS AN IMPROVEMENT, ALL WELL AND GOOD. CHINA WAS NOT
SHE WOULD KEEP THE INITIATIVE AND WOULD MAKE
THE ANXIOUS PARTY.
THE BRITISH *KOW TOW'' TO HER.
}
IF OTHER COUNTRIES MADE FRIENDLY
OVERTURES TO CHINA, THEY WOULD BE WELCOMED ON CHINA'S TERMS. BUT, AS FAR
AS THE BRITISH WERE CONCERNED, THEY HAD NO STRENGTH AND COULD NOT
PRESSURE THE CHINESE AS THEY HAD DONE IN THE PAST. FURTHERMORE, FEARFUL
OF AGGRAVATING THE SITUATION, THEY DARED NOT MAKE ANY RASH MOVES IN
CONNECTION WITH THE GREY CASE. REFERRING BRIEFLY TO FOREIGN PRESS
ATTEMPTS TO CAMPAIGN FOR GREY'S RELF'SE, THE SPEAKER CLAIMED THAT THEY
SHOWED THE INABILITY OF THE BRITISH TO MAKE ANY DIRECT ATTEMPT TO PUT
PRESSURE ON
/5. HE.
CHINA.
TOP SECRET
[
TOP
SECRET
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 230 TO F.C.0.
-
3
5.
HE CONCLUDED HIS REFERENCES TO THE GREY CASE BY POINTING
OUT THAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE DETENTION OF GREY
ENABLED CHINA TO FORCE BRITAIN TO APPLY PRESSURE UPON THE HONG
KONG GOVERNMENT TO CHANGE ITS POLICY TOWARDS LOCAL COMMUNISTS.
FCO PLEASE PASS TO PEKING.
SIR D. TRENCH
FILES
FAR EASTERN DEPT.
HONG KONG DEPT.
1.R.D.
CONSULAR DEPT.
P.U.S.D.
SIR J. JOHNSTON
MR. MORETON
REPEATED AS REQUESTED/
NNNNN
TOP SECRET
า
•
TOR
TOP CO
145
FAT SCCRET
+
11 DECEMBER 1968
TO FOREIGN AND COMISUUSALTH OFFISS
RECFIVED IN AR LIVES No.31
I
1 11 DEC 1968
Fascii
Jos for you!
200 TELEGRAM 10. 22K OF 11TY LECEMBER PEPEATED PÅ SINAK
ALD PAYING.
119
ALEGRAM ND, 2146 : LEY.
CATER NET CONTACT AGAIN ON 10 DESANREF, COHTACT SAID THAT THE REPARKS
APOUT SREY MADE BY THE CHINESE PISSION IN LONDON CYOUR TELEGRAM
*2, 917 TO PEKING) VERE NOT AUTHOPIZED BY PEYING, THAT THE 13
AUTENGKETS HAD BEEN MENTIONED IN THAT VAY MADE MATTERS HORS
DIFFICULT FAR PƏKİES.
1. CONTACT ALSO SAID THAT THE PEKING GOYEPHMENT WIPE WORRIED BY THE
P
WILD-VIDE POLICITY AT THE TREATMENT OF CREY, BUT THE PUGLICITY
VAL MOT PAZING IT ENTIER FOR THEM TO RELEAGE HIM. THEY WERE STILL
CE SUPLATE. NJS RELEASE BUT BECAUSE OF THE PRESENT PUBLICITY IT
GLD TAKE SOME TIME, CONTACT SUCCESTED THAT THEY HIGHT PROSZED
NY STACKS. FOR EXAMPLE, THEY MIGHT IN THE NEXT TWO OR THREE
DORKS ALLOŲ SKEY TO KOVE MORE FREELY ROUND HIS HOUSE, THEN INTO THE
CORT, THEY IN PERIO SUSJERT TO QURFEV AND THEN ALLOW YIN TO
LEAVE FOR WHO HANG. ALL THAT WOULD TAKE TWO OR THREE MONTHS.
3. TUESE REMARKS BY CONTACT, WHICH HAVE A CERTAIN PLAUSIBILITY,
PIŁY THAT THE DUKEN GOVERNUTHT IS NOT NOW INTERESTED IN TEYING
TO BA PAIN OVEN OPEN, PROBABLY FEALIZING THAT THEY ARE UNLIKELY TO
FAT ANY CONVINCING METUSI.
A. THIC
TOR
r
4
SECRET
-2
A. THIS INTERPRETATION OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT'S PRESENT POSITIO
ID CONFIMED LY OTHER TOP SECRET INFORMATION ABOUT A BRIEFING
GIVEN ON 10 DECEMBER TO A COMMUNIST CROUP HERE. THEY WERE TOLD THAT
THE PUBLICITY OVER ORGY, YHICH WAS A DIVERSIONARY MANOEUVTE
BY UN TO DISTRACT ATTENTION FROM THE UNJUST PPRISONMENT AND
FRUTAL TACATMINT OF PATEJOTIC WORKERS IN HONG KONG GAOLS, WAS
A CURE FOR CANCER, THEY WERE OFFERED TO MOUNT A VICOROUS GAYPALON
AGAINST US II THE NEXT FEU PAYS DEMANDING THE PELEASE OF ALL
CONFRONTATIO!! PRISONS AND DETAINEES. IT WAS STRESSED THAT NO
REFERENCE SHOULD DE MADE TO CONDITIONS FOR SECURING GREY'S RELEASE,
OR 19DEFU A VY INFERENCE THAT THE RELEASE OF PRISONERS/DETAINEES IN
*** KOMG VAS IN ANY WAY RELATED TO Grey,
+
FCO PLEASE PASS IHMEDIATE PSKING,
CJA D. TRE "CH
Í RAFE VDED AS REQUESTED)
1
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
VILKA
CAR ENTRARUI DEBT 2.5. 70 1OKE SIETHEAÐ
IR A. GAS ORTHY
YR, LORETON
HONG KONG JOFT *.1.7.0.
PRIVATE SMCHETARY
TOP SECRET
G
P
CYPHER/CAT A
TOP CO:
TOP SECRET
papos
176/
119
| | RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES No.31
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFF ICM
PRI
HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NO. 2246
TOP SECRET
9 DECEMBER 1968
90EC 1968
FECBell.
I'm 10/12
ADDRESSED FCO AS MY TELEGRAM NO. 2246 DATED 9TH DECEMBER,
2246 DATED 9TH DECEMBER, REPEATED
FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING AND P.A. SINGAPORE.
MY TELEGRAM NO. 2180.
SINCE THE MEETING ON 13TH NOVEMBER, CATER HAS HAD THREE FAIRLY
SHORT MEETINGS WITH CONTACT ON 22ND AND 26TH NOVEMBER AND 3RD
DECEMBER, MAINLY TO INFORM HIM ABOUT THE RELEASE OF INDIVIDUAL
DETAINEES AND TO DISCUSS MINOR LOCAL ISSUES.
2. CONTACT HAS HAD NO REPLY OF ANY SUBSTANCE TO MAKE ON THE QUESTIONS
OUTSTANDING. HE HAS, HOWEVER. REPORTED ONE STORY THAT MAY BE OF
INTEREST. HE CLAIMS TO HAVE SEEN A REPORT TO PEKING PREPARED BY THE
LOCAL N.C.N.A. IN WHICH IT IS CONFIDENTLY ARGUED THAT IT WOULD NOT
BE DIFFICULT TO PRESS THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT INTO HAK ING
CONCESSIONS ESPECIALLY OVER GREY. THIS OPINION IS ALLEGEDLY BASED
UPON THE N.C.N.A.'S DISCUSSIONS WITH THE POLITICAL ADVISER ABOUT
PRISON VISITS.
3. ON 3RD DECEMBER CONTACT SAID THAT PEKING WAS NOW APPLYING
CONSIDERABLE PRESSURE ON THE LOCAL N.C.N.A. EITHER TO SUBSTANTIATE
THAT CLAIM OR, IF THEY COULD NOT, TO LEAVE MATTERS TO PEKING. CATER
ASSURED CONTACT THAT WE WERE, OF COURSE, VERY CAUTIOUS IN OUR
DEALINGS WITH N.C.N.A. BUT CONTACT WARNED THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE TOO
INFLEXIBLE SINCE THEY WOULD HAVE TO SAVE FACE. HEF SAID THAT ANY GOOD
NEWS THAT CAME, FOR EXAMPLE ABOUT THE RELEASE OF GREY, WOULD CONE
THROUGH N.C.N.A.
:
14. THE ONLY
TOP SECRET
TOP SECRET
- 2 -
4. THE ONLY CONTACT WITH N.C.N.A. SINCE THE PRISON VISITS WAS THE
TELEPHONE MESSAGE RECEIVED ON 30TH NOVEMBER COMPLAINING ABOUT CONDITIONS
INSIDE PRISONS (COPY OF TEXT ALREADY SENT DY BAG).
A BRIEF BUT UNSYMPATHETIC REPLY WILL BE PASSED BY TELEPHONE IN THE NEXT
FEW DAYS. IF THE N.C.N.A. SEEK A MEETING WE SHALL FOLLOW OUR USUAL
PRACTICE OF NOT AGREEING UNTIL THEY HAVE STATED THE SUBJECT
FOR DISCUSSION.
5. THESE REMARKS PROVIDE SOME SLIGHT CONFIRMATION THAT THE LOCAL
N.C.N.A. IS EXERTING WHAT INFLUENCE IT CAN TO STIFFEN PEKING AGAINST
RELEASING GREY.
FCO PLEASE PAŠS PRIORITY PEKING.
J
SIR D. TRENCH
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED).
FILES:
HONG KONG DEPT
P.3. TO LORD SHEPHERD
SIH A. GALSWORTHY
KR. MORETON
FAR EASTERN DEPT F.U.S.D.
PRIVATE SECRETARY
+
TOP SECRET
1
:
YPHER/CAT A
TOP SECRET
COPY NO.
9.
RECEIVED IN
TE HỒNG KONG
TO
COMMONWEALTH OFFICE HARCHIVES No.31
TELNO 2091
16 OCTOBER 1968
CRET
Japa
ADDRESSED TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TELEGRAM NO. 2091 OF 16
OCTOBER,
REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING AND POLAD SINGAPORE.
+33067-1968
FECI/1.
F=13/3
293)
MY TELEGRAM NO. 2031: GREY.
4
CATER'S MEETING MENTIONED IN PARAGRAPH 2 OF MY TELEGRAM
IN FACT TOOK PLACE ON 28 SEPTEMBER. HE EMPHASIZED THAT HSUEH
PING'S PROBABLE DATE OF RELEASE WAS 18 NOVEMBER AND NOT DURING
OCTOBER. CATER ALSO EMPHASIZED THE BAD IMPRESSION OF CHINA'S
POLICY WHICH GREY'S CONTINUED DETENTION WAS PRODUCING THROUGHOUT
THE WORLD.
2.
CATER'S NEXT MEETING WITH CONTACT TOOK PLACE ON 14 OCTOBER.
HE AGAIN MADE THE POINT ABOUT KSUEH PING AND 18 NOVEMBER. CONTACT SAID
HE HAD PASSED ON THAT MESSAGE AND UNDERTOOK TO REPEAT IT IN THE NEAR
FUTURE.
3. CONTACT SAID THAT HE HAD HAD A REPLY FROM CHOU EN LAI'S SECRETARY
NAMED PANG TO THE MESSAGE WHICH HE HAD UNDERTAKEN TO SEX ON 21 SEPTEMBER
(MY TELEGRAM NO. 2007). BUT IT HAD BEEN EXPRESSED IN VERY GENERAL TERMS
AND HAD NOT MENTIONED GREY BY NAME. PANG HAD EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT
SOON ALL OUTSTANDING PROBLEMS WOULD BE RESOLVED AND HAD SAID IT WAS NOT
PEKING'S INTENTION TO PUT CONTACT IN THE POSITION OF HAVING TO ASK THE
IMPOSSIBLE FROM THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.
FOREIGN OFFICE PLEASE PASS ROUTINE PEKING.
SIR D. TRENCH
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED/
/COPIES SENT TO SIR B. TREND, CABINET OFFICE, AND
TO SECRETARY, J.1.C./
FILES
C.O.
F.0.
DINUNN
HONG KONG DEPT.
P.A.DEPT.
P.S. TO LORD SHEPHERD
MR. MASON
MR. ROB
F.E.D.
SIR D. ALLEN
P.U.S.D.
PRIVATE SECRETARY
DIS MOD
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
TOP SECRET
14 Oct
CYPHER/CAT A
TOP SECRET
IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELNO 2085
14 OCTOBER, 1968
Copy M. 13
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES N631 230CT 1968
TOP SECRET
Jaspas
hampio
MIO FE2134/1
KOLFESSED CO IZLEGPA" NO. 2015 OF 14TH OCTOBER LITEATUO PA SIIKASOLL
AND WASHEKITCH.
FO COYO UPALTH OFFICE AS OM HET CEM.
MY INEDIATELY PRECEDNIK TOLEGPAY PEFER,
J
AT Į METIM ON ETH OCTOFET, ATTENDED LY SENICH COPNUNIST FILS
PERSONALITIFC, A SENICE K.C.NA. CFFICIAL DESOFRECE A DIRECTIVE IN
LECAD CUTLIKTS WHICH, IT STATED HAD KKEN PASSED BY PEEPISH
CHOU EN LAI TO A PONG KONG LELECATION PECENTLY VISITING PERING. APTER
CUCU BAD RECEIVED A REPORT ON THE SITUATION IN HONG KONG FFCK THC
ECLEGATION KE TEFFITED TO THE DETENTION OF ANTHONY GFEY AND FEPAFYED