SECRET
S
Cypher/Cat A
-IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
Telno 1002
SECRET
2 November, 1968
Addressed to FCO telegram No.1002 of 2 November, Repeated for information to Hong Kong.
My telegram No.996.
I was received by Miss Chang (Deputy Director of News Department) this afternoon. She read a short statement saying that Hong Kong branch of N.C.N.A. demanded that Hong Kong British authorities should arrange in the near future formal visits by responsible officials of N.C.N.A. and patriotic newspapers to the 14 N.C.N.A. journalists and patriotic news workers who were unjustifiably imprisoned in Hong Kong. Details for these visits could be arranged through direct contact between N.C.N.A. in Hong Kong and Hong Kong British authorities. After these visits had taken place, the Chinese side could arrange for a visit to Grey by British officers. She refused to be drawn on details of either the Hong Kong visits or the visit to Grey.
2.
Chang went on to refer to a news conference which she said Cradock had given recently in Hong Kong. She alleged that Cradock had made "very vicious" comments about Grey, which were not conducive to solution of the problem.
3. In reply I said I could not accept the language in which the Chinese request was phrased, Journalists and news workers serving prison sentences in Hong Kong had all been charged, tried and sentenced under due process of law. There was therefore no question of them being unjustifiably imprisoned. I undertook to report to you the substance of the Chinese request. I noted the Chinese side had raised the question of Grey who had been detained without charges in solitary confinement since 21 July, 1967, a period of 15 months. I reminded Cheng that the cuestion of visit to Grey had been raised in an interview between Cradock and his [? op omitted] on 6 July. Subsequent requests for Consular access had been made by this office on 19 August, 2 September, 1 September and 24 October. I took note of the fact that now at last the Chinese side had made an answer. AS for the matter of Cradock's news conference in Hong Kong, I had not seen a text and would therefore make no comment.
4. Chang replied it was the N.C.N.A. in Hong Kong who were demanding the visits not the Chinese side who were responding to our requests, She concluded with a few accusations about unjustifiable imprisonment of Hong Kong prisoners which I rebutted.
5. Chang seemed anxious to play up independent initiative of the N.C.N.A. in Hong Kong in asking for visits to Hong.Kong prisoners. Her refusal in reply to my query, to confirm that arrangements would be same as for April visits suggests Peking may wish to give N.C.N.A. Hong Kong a free hand to press for minor concessions. As seen from here, the Chinese decision is not necessarily incompatible with a decision to release Grey after they get their visits and Hsueh is released, They may simply be trying to extract the last ounce of advantage from us before letting Grey out.
SECRET
16. Hong
LAST
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1.b.
R.F
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