TNAG-0027-FCO40-63-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 104

CONFIDENTIAL

Cypher/Cat A

TOR COPY

168

IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (D.T.D.)

Telno. 174-7

23 November 1967

CONFIDENTIAL

HW

Addressed to C.0. telegram No. 1747 of 23 November Repeated for information to:

Peking and Rawalpindi.

1671

Peking telegram No. 255 to Foreign Office: Grey.

Following from Political Adviser.

Chipp is now again in Hong Kong. He has told me in the strictest confidence that he visited Pakistan on 16 November to press personal friends of his connected with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intervene on Grey's behalf. Meanwhile Reuters General Manager (not (repeat not) Grey's mother) has sent a telegram to Chou Enlai asking for reconsideration of Grey's case on humanitarian grounds, largely because of the bad effect on his mother, and suggesting that Chipp should himself visit Peking in the near future to discuss the whole problem.

2.

Chipp's stated view is that at this stage the more lines put out to the Chinese about Grey the better.

As he is

3. I am lunching with Chipp tomorrow 24 November. obviously forming Reuters policy on this matter, is there any particular line you would like me to take with him?

F.0. please pass Priority Peking 626 and Rawalpindi M648.

Sir D. Trench

2311,67

[Repetition to Peking referred for departmental decision repeated as requested to other posts.]

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

C.O.

H.K.D.

S.A.D.

F.0.

LAST

16

169

News Dept REF

News Dept.

LEAT

REF.

Consular Dept.

F.E.D.

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

RECEIVED IN

ARCHES No. 63 23 ROJI96/

CONFIDENTIAL

HLN 3/2

77777