TNAG-0111-FCO40-147-Detainees-and-prisoners-following-19671968-disturbances-1969 — Page 124

have an indication that it would #ecure the release of r. Grey.

In public we have been most careful to avoid giving any grounds

for belief in Hong Kong or the United Kingdom that we would be

prepared to interfere with the law. Kr, Gradeck has in the

past argued that if we were prepared to sacrifice principles

in the osse of one man, then we should be in no way widing to

our sin by extending it to the remainder, But in terms of

practical polities the visible warpin: of justice in the osse

of eleven convicted sep must inevit bly have greater

reperous i one than in the case of a single one.

(vi) Mr. Cradock'z (f): "I ca not convinced that release

would ignificantly encour ge the Chinese in further hostage-

taking” Chic ie again a matter of opinion. In our view the

balance of probability is that if we pay up on this ocossion it cannot fail to encourage them to play the hostage gene wgain in

future. hile our policy of ne concessions on riconers has

admittedly brou ht no benefits to british subjects on this occasion, it has (more significantly) avoided a major political trap in Hong Long. Furthermore, it does not follow that

concessione would benefit British subjects in the longer tera. Fr. Cradock may be right that the Chinese wilà, in any case, take hont ges gain whatever we do now; but surely if

1.

experience teaches them that this is an effective means of

bringing pressure to bear, they will take more Father than loss

in a future instance.

CONFIDENTIAL