TNAG-0031-FCO40-67-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 87

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eyes, with the risk that they will hold him even after the

two N.C.N.A. correspondents are released in Hong Kong.

(Hong Kong telegram No. 803); Mr. Gray was originally

held in retaliation only for the arrest of one of these.

3. Sir D. Hopson has replied that it is too late in the

day to delude the Chinese about our anxieties over Mr. Grey;

and that public and Parliamentary interest in his case in

the United Kingdom in any case precludes a show of

disinterest. Sir D. Hopson points out that he has already

pressed, without success, for non-consular visits by a

friend to Mr. Grey and repeats his recommendation for

another round of special visits in Hong Kong, on the same

terms as before, and on the understanding that he or a

member of his staff would be permitted another visit to

Mr. Grey (Peking telegram No. 596).

Plaga (595)

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Recommendation

4. I recommend that we support Sir D. Hopson's proposal.

(36)

A draft telegram is attached. The Commonwealth Office

concur.

Background

5. At the time of Sir D. Hopson's first visit to Mr. Grey

we judged that no further visit would be permitted without

a further round of visits to the two N.C.M.A. correspondenta

and eighteen other "patriotic newspaper workers" imprisoned

in Hong Kong (Er. Kurray's submission of 2 May, attached).

In on interview granted to the Counsellor in Peking by the

/Chinese

CONFIDENTIAL