TNAG-0113-FCO40-149-Detainees-and-prisoners-following-19671968-disturbances-1969 — Page 141

SECRET

225

CYPHER/CAT.A

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TO HONG KONG

TOP COPY

TELNO.299

5 KAY, 1969

(F.E.D.)

SECRET

ADDRESSED TO HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 299 OF 5 MAY REPEATED

FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING.

947

YOUR TELEGRAM NO.437:

AND OTHER CONFRONTATION PRISONERS).

YOUR PROPOSED ARRANGEMENTS SEEM SATISFACTORY. ONLY IN THE

MATTER OF TIMING HAVE WE ANY RESERVATIONS. WE HAD WARNING IN TODAY'S

TIMES OF A PETITION TO BE HANDED TO THE OFFICE SHORTLY ON BEHALF

OF GREY'S RELATIVES DEMANDING IMMEDIATE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE

CHINESE TO SECURE HIS RELEASE IN EXCHANGE FOR COMMUNIST JOURNALISTS

IN HONG KONG. IT WOULD BE A NUISANCE IF THE PUBLIC WERE TO GET THE

IMPRESSION THAT YOUR PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT WAS THE RESULT OF THIS

PRESSURE. THE SHORTER THE TIME THAT ELAPSES BETWEEN THE HANDING IN

OF THE PETITION AND YOUR ANNOUNCEMENT THE LESS WILL BE THE RISK OF

THIS. IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL THEREFORE IF YOU COULD ADVANCE THE

ANNOUNCEMENT EVEN BY A FEW DAYS.

222

2. AS REGARDS THE GUIDANCE MATERIAL (YOUR TELEGRAM NO.349), THERE

ARE LIKELY TO BE POINTED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THE REVIEW

PROCEDURE MIGHT BE EXTENDED TO DEAL WITH THE CASES OF THE OTHER TEN NEWS WORKERS. PRESUMABLY THE ANSWER WOULD BE THAT THIS REVIEW

PROCEDURE WAS INTENDED FOR LONG TERM PRISONERS WHO HAD STILL CONSIDERABLE TIME TO SERVE. THE TEN NEWS WORKERS WHOSE SENTENCES WERE THREE YEARS, SHOULD IN ANY CASE, WITH FULL REMISSION, BE OUT

IN SEPTEMBER.

STEWART

FILES

F. EASTERN D.

H.K.D.

SIR J. JOHNSTON

MR. MORETON

SIR A. GALSWORTHY

P.U.S.D.

PRIVATE SECRETARY

LAT

NEXI

226

REF.

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO.51

- 8 MAY 1969

HICK 1/12

GGGGG

SECRET