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6.
will not regard this as any concession on our part,
and that we should have thus lost the opportunity
of giving the Chinese the relatively harmless
"victory" which they, may regard as a pre-requisite
for their acceptance of a modus vivendi in Hong
Kong. However, our experience of the Chinese
suggests that they will not be at a loss to present
the release of the eleven, whenever it comes, as a
victory. They will have prevailed to the extent of
having held on to Mr. Grey until we have stopped
"the persecution of patriotic newsworkers in Hong
Kong".
We have re-examined the possibility of an intermediate
position, i.e. commuting the sentences of the newsworkers
only a short time before their normal release date, say in
Mid-July. Such a course would have this in its favour:
(a) It should shorten Mr. Grey's ordeal by about two
(b)
(c)
months.
It would be a very mild"kow tow" towards the Chinese
of the kind for which Mr. Cradock argued (paragraph
5(c) above) and would be a further demonstration
of our flexibility in trying to reach an accommo-
dation with them.
It would help to meet public criticism of inhumanity
on our part towards Mr. Grey at a time when, on
the eve of the recess, Parliament will be taking
particular interest.
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