TNAG-0113-FCO40-149-Detainees-and-prisoners-following-19671968-disturbances-1969 — Page 43

Sir J. Johnston

Sir A. Galsworthy

CONFIDENTIAL

lu. Sarker

Mr. Gangara

K221 252

RA.

20.6.69

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No.51 20 JUN 1969

HKK1/12

Mr. Anthony Grey

Mr. Molloy has put down for answer on 23 June the

following question:

"To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and

Commonwealth Affairs, when he now expects the release

of the British journalist, Anthony Grey, and the

British subjects illegally detained by the Chinese

Government; and if he will make a statement.

Recommended Reply

2. I propose that the reply might be on the following lines:

"The Chinese have indicated that if certain newsworkers

in prison in Hong Kong are released they will restore

Mr. Grey's freedom. Under normal circumstances all

the newsworkers in question will be released with full

remission by early October. The Chinese have given no

indication of their intentions about the other British

subjects, some of whom they allege have violated Chinese

law."

Argument

3. I had hoped thatwe would have been able to avoid

commenting publicly on the release date for Mr. Grey at this

stage. The question comes at an awkward moment before

Lord Shepherd has had an opportunity of reporting to the

CONFIDENTIAL

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