CYPHER/CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
ROUTINE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELEGRAM NO.444
ONFIDENTIAL-
TO HONG KONG
268/2/
4 JULY 1969 (FE)
ADDRESSED TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO.444 OF 4 JULY
REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING.
YOUR TELEGRAM NO.341 (NOT TO ALL): GREY.
WE WERE GRATEFUL FOR THIS FULL AND THOROUGH ASSESSMENT.
2. WE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTY OF TRYING TO ARRANGE FOR THE PREMATURE RELEASE OF THE ELEVEN NEWSWORKERS BY MEANS OF A COVER STORY. WE AGREE THAT EVEN IF YOU WERE ABLE TO CONTRIVE A REASONABLY GOOD COVER-STORY, IT WOULD CERTAINLY NOT BE TREATED AS SUCH BY THE PRESS AND MIGHT IPPAIR CREDIBILITY FOR THE FUTURE.
3.
THEREFORE ACCEPT THAT, AT THE STAGE WHICH WE HAVE NOW REACHED IN THIS DIFFICULT PROBLEM, THE LEAST UNSATISFACTORY COURSE IS PROBABLY TO HAVE THE NEWSWORKERS COMPLETE THEIR SENTENCES IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER.
4. HOWEVER, IF IN THE EVENT YOU WERE TO DECIDE AS SEPTEMBER APPROACHES, THAT A TIME HAD COME WHEN THE PREMATURE RELEASE OF THE NEWSWORKERS BY A MATTER OF A FEW WEEKS WOULD BE REGARDED BY THE CHINESE AS A GESTURE OF ACCOMMODATION RATHER THAN AN ACT OF WEAKNESS, I SHOULD NOT WANT YOU TO EXCLUDE THIS.
5. ACCORDING AS THE BROOKE CASE DEVELOPS, WE SHALL IN DUE COURSE BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU FURTHER ABOUT THE LINE TO BE TAKEN TO COPE WITH COMMENTS ATTEMPTING TO LINK THE BROOKE AND GREY CASES.
STEWART
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
FAR EASTERN DEPT
HONG KONG DEPT
P.U.S.D.
NEWS DEPT
CONFIDENTIAL
B
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