TNAG-0113-FCO40-149-Detainees-and-prisoners-following-19671968-disturbances-1969 — Page 119

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

KALAMŽIAUS Sati Sulk

BARAZZAMANDA

CONFIDENTIAL

sofijos

Supplementary Talking Pointe

Might the Chinese change their ground, as they

have done before?

6*

The original Chinese announcement about

Mr. Grey's detention referred to eight Hong

Kong news workers. When the last of these was

released in November last year we had some

hopes that Mr. Grey might be set free,

However,

It

they proceeded to link his continuied detentica

to further news workers arrested in Hong Kong

after the start of Mr. Grey's detention.

would still be possible for them to find a

similar excuse for prolonging his ordeal after

the last of these men is released in early

October, but we think this unlikely.

Would not the release of the newsworkers only

a short time before the end of their sentences

be a harmless concessim?

7.

reasonse

The Hong Kong authorities must think of

the future. They would still be interfering

with the judicial processes for political

Confidence in their ability to with-

stand communist pressure would be undermined.

If the Hong Kong authorities were seen to be

ready to yield to Chinese pressure, this might

encourage the Chinese to put up their price

for Mr. Grey.

Retaliation against N.C.N.A

8. We have considered the possibility of

retaliation against the New China News Agency

in the United Kingdom. The possibility

remains open. However, it is our judgement at

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