Cypher/Cat A
CONFIDENTIAL
1334
IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
Fano 975
29 July 1967
CONFIDENTIAL
Original a HKIA 14/22
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 975 of
29 July.
Repeated for information to Hong Kong.
110
Hong Kong telegram No. 1114 to Commonwealth Office.
Reuters and NCNA Reporters.
This morning we received following telephone reply from News Department of Chinese Foreign Ministry to our request for Consular access to Mr. Grey. "On 24 July the Hong Kong branch of NCNA applied to the assistant director of the political party of Hong Kong police headquarters, Mr. White, for a visit by a formal representative of NCNA to Hsueh P'ing, Ch'en Tsung-ying and Ch'en Te-mu. On 25 July White refused to make arrangements for such a visit, therefore after liaison with the appropriate authorities we consider that we cannot meet your application to visit Mr. Grey." (By "political department" the Chinese probably mean "special branch").
2. This reply appears to indicate that the Chinese are directly linking Grey and all NCNA staff detained in Hong Kong. Consequently they will not permit official access to Grey until an official visit by NCNA has been permitted to the NCNA prisoners in Hong Kong. Apparently they claim routine visits by relatives do not count for this purpose.
3. You will now wish to consider whether to grant an official visit by NCNA to their people in Hong Hong in return for Consular access to Mr. Grey. If we intend to try to make a deal later this might serve as an indication to the Chinese that we are prepared to do so.
Mr. Hopson
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
Sent 04402/29 July Recd 06452/29 July
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
F.0.
F.E.D.
Consular Dept. News Dept.
F "
110
J.1.R.D.
C.O. D.T.D.
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F.E.P.D.
13DA
CONFIDENTIAL
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