TNAG-0111-FCO40-147-Detainees-and-prisoners-following-19671968-disturbances-1969 — Page 196

CONFIDENTIAL

Hang King Dept. 109

NOTE FOR THE RECORD

Mr. Grey and Hong Kong

The Secretary of State held an Office meeting on

13 December to discuss Mr. Grey with particular reference to

the Hong Kong aspecte. The Governor of Hong Kong was present.

DISCUSSION

2.

Discussion was on the basis of the recommendations in

Far Eastern Department's submission of 12 December and

Mr. Moreton's minute of the same date.

It was agreed that the time had come to do what we could

to restrain publicity about Mr. Grey in the belief that the

Chinese would be more likely to release 'hin when not evidently

under pressure.

It was noted that the co-operation of Reuters

1.

would be essential in this; and Far Eastern Department undertook to be in touch with Nr. Long, the General Manager.

It was also agreed that we should continue to resist

pressure to take retaliatory action against the Chinese in this countr The Governor suggested however that it might

be worth looking into the possibility of some informal boycott

by the press of the activities of the New China News Agency. (Par Eastern Department are looking into this.)

56

*

Discussion centred on the on the only point on which

there was any considerable difference of emphasis between the

Far Eastern Department and the Governor. Far Eastera

Department had pressed the advantages of releasing all the

/ romeining

CONFIDENTIAL