TNAG-0029-FCO40-65-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 56

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arrived at, in the interesta of Kr. Grey.

3.

Efforts have also boon made to negotiate Mr. Grey's

release. In his letter of 31 August to the Chinese Foreign

Minister, Mr. Brown indicated that it might be possible to

arrange the release to China of the N.C.N.A. journalists

imprisoned in Hong Kong in exchange for the release of Mr.

Grey. On 31 December Sir D. Hopson on instructions made an

informal suggestion to the Chinese that Mr. Grey should be

exchanged for Hsueh Ping, an N.C.N.A. reporter imprisoned

in Hong Kong. This suggestion was repeated on an official

basis on 8 February end again on 1 March when the Chinese

replied that the suggestion had been noted but there was as

yet no newa.

4. In retaliation for Mr. Grey's arrest we have been with-

holding British entry visas for three N.C.N.A. officials who

wish to come to the United Kingdom.

B.

Mr. Norman Barrymaine

矍

5. On 14 March we received a report that the "Daily Telegraph"

staff correspondent in Hong Kong had heard that. Mr. Parrymaine,

a British subject, who had been a passonger abroad the Polish

ship "Hanoi", had been detained by the Chinese authorities in

Shanghai. As the information available indicated that the

report was accurate, the Mission in Peking addressed a Note

to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 18 March asking

for information about Mr. Barrymaine and for consular access

if he was in fact detained. No reply has yet been received.

Me

CONFIDENTIAL