TNAG-0028-FCO40-64-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 171

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great attention.

6. In Foreign Office telegram No. 49 we stated that we

(249) might be under pressure to take some retaliatory action

against N.C.N.A. in London if there were no progress over

Mr. Grey, that publicity would increase this pressure, and

asked whether in the circumstances Sir D. Hopson still

favoured publicity. His views are contained in Peking Flag B 252 telegram no. 42 (which crossed ours) and Peking telegram

Flag 25 no. 48.

&

253

Sir D. Hopson recommends strongly against retaliation

on N.C.N.A. in London and indicates that he would not favour

publicity if this led to greater pressure for retaliation.

7. In the wider context of Sino-British relations, Sir D.

Hopson has also had exchanges with the Governor of Hong Kong

about the possibility of a major act of clemency on the

occasion of the Chinese New Year at the end of January e.g.

the release of all political prisoners (Feking telegrams

nos. 22 and 41). Sir D. Hopson hopes that such a gesture

would smooth the way for progress over Kr. Grey. Understandably the Governor has serious reservations (Hong Kong telegram no. 50)

though he has indicated willingness to make limited and

graduated concessions, some of which have already been made.

He has undertaken to let us have his further views.

If we

accept Sir D. Hopson's reasoning, the only way forward on

the Grey case is by means of unilateral concessions to the

Chinese, in particular a major and probably damaging con-

cession in Hong Kong. We have discussed the matter at

/official

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