TNAG-0029-FCO40-65-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 32

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It is highly desirable that the Chinese should be left with

no formal pretext whatsoever for withholding visas from our

Kiosion. When informed of such a decision the Chinese would

be unlikely to give us any formal satisfaction;

but they

night conceivably be prepared in practice to grant exit vises

for the Mission. This is a matter of some urgency since

Sir D. Hopeon has recently for the first time introduced the

question of staff morale, pointing out that although the

situation is not yet desperate, the strain for those, divided

from their families and those who ought to leave China for

medical reasona is beginning to tell. We would not be giving away any significant bargaining counter. What is important

is not the requirement that the Chinese should have to ask

for permission to leave -which stems from the Foreign Office

Note without regular juridical basis. That is important is

that if in the event too many Chinese try to leave, the Security

Services and the Home Office should be ready to co-operate in

effective means to prevent them doing so.

British Subjects detained in China (See also Annex D)

13. (a) Mr. Crey

Since his detention last July, the Chinene have made it

abundantly clear that Kr. Grey is linked to developments in

Hong Kong. It is for that reason there never has boon ery

hope of achieving his release by pressure on N.C.N.A. in

London. We have so far not made any progress towards the

zalease of Er. Grey. The Chinese have not yet taken up the

question of exchanging him against N.C.N.A. journalists in

SECRET

/Hong