TNAG-0110-FCO40-146-Detainees-and-prisoners-following-19671968-disturbances-1968 — Page 135

SECRET

CYPHER/CAT A

IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

PL NO. 2250

9 DECEMBER 1968

SECRET

ADDRESSED FCO TELEGRAM NO. 2250 OF 9TH DECEMBER REPEATED PEKING.

1

76

YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 1644: GREY.

WE HAVE GLEANED NO MORE THROUGH OUR INFORMAL CHANNEL THAN IS REPORTED

IN MY TELEGRAM NO. 2246. WE HAVE NO OTHER EVIDENCE OF THE CHINESE

INTENTIONS REGARDING GREY.

2. BEGINNING WITH CRADOCKS PRESS CONFERENCE ON 39 OCTOBER THERE

HAS BEEN CONSIDERABLE PUBLICITY IN THE LOCAL COMMUNIST PRESS ABOUT

DETAINEES, NEWSWORKERS AND CONFRONTATION PRISONERS GENERALLY. THE

GROWING AGITATION ELSEWHERE ON BEHALF OF GREY MAY HAVE ENCOURAGED

THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO HOLD ON TO GREY LONGER IN THE HOPE OF

EXTRACTING SOME CONCESSIONS FROM US, BUT OUR BEST LOCAL INTELLIGENCE

IS THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ARE CONTEMPLATING HIS RELEASE.

ADMITTEDLY THAT INFORMATION IS NOW SOME WEEKS OLD BUT IT DOES SEEM

TO US WORTHWHILE TO MAINTAIN THE POLICY OF NOT BARGAINING OVER

GREY IN THE HOPE THAT THE PEKING GOVERNMENT, IN SPITE OF LOCAL

COMMUNIST AGITATION, WILL ACT UPON THOSE LINES.

LART

REF.

NEXT

REF.

FCO PLEASE PASS IMMEDIATE PEKING,

SIR D. TRENCH

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION;

FAR EASTERN DEPT

HONG KONG DEPT

CONSULAR” DEFT

NEWS. DEPT

SECRET

ADVANCE COPIES SENT:

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