RESTRICTED
CYPHER/CAT A
OUTINE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
ΤΟ PEKING
TELEGRAM NUMBER 167
10 MAY 1969
(FED)
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236
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMDER 167 OF 10 MAY REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG.
BRITISH PRESS COVERAGE OF NEWS OF SENTENCE REDUCTIONS IN HONG KONG.
COVERAGE IN TODAY'S PRESS IS AS RESTRAINED AS COULD BE REASONABLY EXPECTED, ALTHOUGH HEADLINES EMPHASISE QUOTE GREY : NEW HOPE OF RELEASE UNQUOTE (QUOTE FINANCIAL TIMES UNQUOTE). ALL REPORTS CARRY OFFICIAL DENTAL OF ANY CONNECTION BETWEEN THE REVIEW BOARD'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE GREY CASE. ALL PICK OUT WONG CHAK: AND MOST DRAW THEIR OWN CONCLUSIONS THAT THE NEWS QUOTE COULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEKING TO SET MR. GREY FREE UNQUOTE (QUOTE GUARDIAN UNQUOTE) AS QUOTE ALL NINE (SIC) WILL BE FREE BY THE AUTUMN AND CHINA WILL FIND IT DIFFICULT TO JUSTIFY MR. GREY'S CONTINUED DETENTION AFTER THAT TIME UNQUOTE. (QUOTE THE TIMES UNQUOTE)
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2. ONLY THE QUOTE SUN UNQUOTE (LEAPMAN) IS PARTICULARLY POINTED : QUOTE THE BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE WERE AT PAINS YESTERDAY TO DENY THAT THE REDUCTION IN SENTENCES WAS INSPIRED BY A DESIRE TO SEE MR. GREY FREED. IT IS HARD, THOUGH, TO ESCAPE THIS INTERPRETATION UNQUOTE.
3. ALTHOUGH THE FACTS ARE REPORTED MORE OR LESS ACCURATELY BY ALL, PRESENTATION IN THE QUOTE GUARDIAN UNQUOTE (PRITTIE) IS SOMEWHAT MISLEADING. ITS HEADLINE - QUOTE BRITAIN TO FREE CHINESE UNQUOTE IS FIRST GLOSSED BY: QUOTE BRITAIN HAS ANNOUNCED THE IMPENDING RELEASE OF ALL CHINESE JOURNALISTS IMPRISONED IN HONG KONG UNQUOTE. HOWEVER, REPORT PROCEEDS TO SAY THAT THERE IS QUOTE NOTHING DRAMATIC UNQUOTE ABOUT THE ANNOUNCEMENT AS TEN OF THE NEWSWORKERS
WERE IN ANY CASE DUE FOR RELEASE IN THE AUTUMN.
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