TNAG-0113-FCO40-149-Detainees-and-prisoners-following-19671968-disturbances-1969 — Page 61

CONCLUSIONS

3.

My conclusion or these.

(a) While from the point of view of the Grey case it would

suit us best if the September timing envisaged earlier

could be maintained in the Brooke case, the timing of

the latter need not be a decisive factor in the timing

of the forner. Thus the Grey case of itself does not

seem to me to require us to press for dolay in the

Brooke cs50.

(b)

"Y

Even if a bargain about Mr. Brooke is to become publicly

known by 1 July, this does not require us to try to

settle the Grey case before that date by the release of

the convicted newsworkers in Hong Kong. Indeed it

would be both impracticable and undesirable for us to

attempt to do so.

(c) Accordingly a decision on the future handling of the

Grey caso can avait Lord Shepherd's return.

{ ca

If thereafter the decision on the merits of the Crey case

io to let things take their course in Hong Kong until

October, developments in the Brooke case should not

prevent us from going through with this.

ARGUMENT

There is much force in the case the Governor has put to

Lord Shepherd. There are, however, two points with which I

would take issue.

(a) I do not agree that it is "by no means certain that the

earlier release of the newsworkers would expedite

Mr. Grey's release". If, on the basis of the recent

SCORNT

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