TNAG-0028-FCO40-64-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 169

Kr. Wilkinson

CONFIDENTIAL

9/2601

Problem

Mr. Anthony Grey and the New China News

No progress has been made in securing access to Mr. Grey,

nor have the Chinese responded to an informal suggestion made

by Sir Donald Hopson that Mr. Grey might be exchanged for

N.C.N.A. personnel in prison in Hong Kong. There has been

some recent press publicity in this country about the case

and we must expect further Parliamentary questions and possibly

an adjournment debate. We have to decide what further pressure,

if any, can be put on the Chinese to release Mr. Grey and how

the case should be handled in public.

Recommendation

2.

I recommend that we should consult Sir D. Hopson further

on the lines of the attached draft telegrams in which the

Commonwealth Office concur.

Argument and Background

The

3. Sir D. Hopson has had a number of exchanges with the

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs about visita to Mr. Grey.

He has pointed out that the N.C.N.A. personuel in prison in

Hong Kong are allowed regular visits by their relatives.

Chinese have countered by saying that they should be allowed

special visits by their N.C.N.A. colleagues and others who

would wish to bring them extra food and clothing. The Governor

/of

CONFIDENTIAL