fm 10/7
Gp.361
NOTHING TO BE Written in THIS MARGIN
י
+
CS. 41A
210007
5,000-2/69-870130
RESTRICTED
RIT.
Erli-811)
COLONIAL SECRETARIAT
LOWER ALBERT ROAD
HONG KONG
effr.
Dear Coun
RECEIVED IN
R. GISTRY Nɔ,50
18 JUL 1969
FEL 132
9th July, 1969.
{14022/7
869
Thank you for your letter of 3rd July enclosing an article from the 29th
June issue of the Sunday Express. We had not seen this before and as far
as I can establish we were not responsible.
2.
-
-
Alfred Lee is an Australian Chinese who normally vorks as a reporter for
the English language "Star" He is quite irresponsible he will go down in
history as the journalist who reported on one occasion in 1967 that
300,000 Chinese troops were massing on the border and no Hong Kong
Government official in his senses would have said anything quotable to
him on the sensitive subject of Anthony Grey. The phrases attributed to
"a Hong Kong Government official" have an odd ring and I strongly
suspect that Lee imagined the conversation. He is quite capable of this
kind of invention.
3.
Peter Vane is not known here and I assume he is a Sunday Express man in
London working in collaboration with Lee. It was presumably Vane and not
Lee who concocted the highly inaccurate account of events this year.
4.
We do our best to ensure that responsible correspondents here have a
proper understanding of the Grey case and avoid unhelpful comment but
there is little we can do with people like Alfred Lee. Perhaps News
Department can persuade the Sunday Express to find a more reliable
stringer in Hong Kong?
Yours ever,
Robom Mclaren
(R.J.T. McLaren)
Assistant Political Adviser.
Colin Wilson, Esq.,
Far Eastern Department,
Foreign & Commonwealth Office, London, S.W.1.
c.c. J.N. Allan, Esq., Peking.
་་
AUSTRIUTED
MR. MURRAY
41
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No. 50
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FEL Hull Hong Kong
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27.6.69.
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Political Adviser
Reference memoranda from H.8.G. and D.S.B: discussed and decided that,
in view of previous suspicions and possible misunderstandings concerning
a "second" channel" I should inform Hr. K.C. Jay that we were aware that
FEI Yi- ming was in communication with Leslie Smith through L. P. SUNG:
that this "channel" was in no circumstances recognised by the H.K.G. and
indeed we should be pleased to see it stop functioning. Accordingly I
made arrangements to see Jay at 3 p.■. on Monday, 23rd June,
2.
Jay appeared pleased to receive this information, possibly because it
tended to allay his fears that we were attempting to cut him out and
possibly because it involved his old enemy, FEI Yi-ming, and undoubtedly
would give Jay a further op ortunity of putting FEI in a bad light so
far as Peking is concerned. Indeed, Jay spent quite a long time telling
me how bad PEI vas and underlining the fact that FEI no longer enjoyed
the confidence or support of Peking. Jay also thought that this piece of
information would be of value to him later, should the communists again
voice suspicions that the H.K.G. might be
"double crossing" them - Jay could counter that the H.K.G. might also
have its suspicions of the communists in view of the fact that a leading
local communist was attempting to set up unofficially a chain of
communication with the H.K.G.
3.
I also took the opportunity of pointing out to Jay that, in spite of
promises over the last fav months that left-wing newspaper articles
would be toned down, numerous articles still appeared which were clearly
either libellous or seditious. I read extracts of some recent newspaper
articles to Jay and he vas clearly embarrassed. He undertook to pass on
my comments.
-
Referring back to my discussion with him of 19 June, ay said that he had
omitted to mention one thing: LI Cho chin was now convinced that his
telephone was being tapped but he did not think that it was being done
by the Police but probably by communists who had connections in the Hong
Kong Telephone Co.: in other words, said Jay, LI Peels that he is being
checked up. Jay has now a new arrangement with LI for telephone
communications. Any message other than stri tly official banking
business vill now be passed to Jay by LI's secretary, MT. WONG: in turn,
if Jay wishes to contact LI for a special meeting he also will make
arrangements through Mr. WỌNG,
5.
Jay told me that he is having some difficulty with his sons: two of them
had point blank refused to accept an invitation from local communists to
have dinner, lunch or "attend a film show". Jay thought this could be a
source of embarrassment to him but hoped to smooth matters over.
есс
(J. Cater)
25th June, 1969.
c.c.
Mr. J. Murray, CMG (F.C.o.) Mr. J.B. Denson, OBE (PEKING)
D.S.B
H.S.G.
E.S.$.
SECRET
RESTRICTED
Far Eastern Department
Am 8
(888
134/1
15 July, 1969.
In paragraph 4 of your telegram No. 413 of 14 July reporting John
Denson's visit to Anthony Grey, you asked whether we could help with
your enquiriese for a missing briefcase which Grey deposited in the
former Mission building.
*. I have had a word with Peter Weston, who clearly recollects placing
this case in the building for safekeeping after Grey was confined to his
house but when he returned after the building had been burnt he was
unable to find it. We presume, therefore, that it was either destroyed
in the fire or removed by the Chinese.
J. N. Allan, Esq.,
PEKING.
(C. Wilson)
P.
RESTRICTAN
f.m.18/
FEC isdi
pw
887
Far Eastern Department
14 July, 1969.
I have telephoned you several times today without success but I presume
that you wore out at work from Tony Orey, which runs as follows:
-
to pass on a message
Love
"Thank you for your messages and letters. I am well and looking forward
very much to seeing you. from Tony."
You will no doubt already have seen in today's London papers that John
Denson visited Tony Grey and spoke to him for about forty minutes. He
found him well and in reasonably good spirits. John Denson's report on
the visit does not add much to the Reitors account which is based on a
telephone conversation between their Moscow correspondent and John
Denson shortly after the visit. John Denson reported that Tony was
entirely relaxed and composed throughout the visit. He confirmed that
the improvements in his conditions of detention described in a recent
letter to his mother had been maintained and that he found listening to
the radio a great solace. He said that he was short of reading material
as he had read all his own books and only received the weekly copy of
the "Peking Review", He added that he had received no letter from his
mother for the past month nor from you in the past two weeks,
If we receive any additional information about the visit from John
Denson I will get in touch with you again.
In the meantime you may like to see the enclosed copy of the Reuters
account of the visit.
Miss 8. McGuinn,
57 York Street,
London, W.1.
(C. Wilson)
FEL Beli
[Copy to: Mr. Gerald Long, Reuters Z
88€
14 July, 1969.
7.35pm.
Despatched express
141)
Ause
You may remember that we met when you visited the Forsign and
Commonwealth Office in May with members of your family to see Kr. Foley.
I know that Mr. Horton of Reuters told you last week that Mr. John
Deneon, our Chargé d'Affaires, would be seeing your son today in Peking;
and you will no doubt have already seen the Reuters report of a
conversation by telephone between the Reuters Moscow correspondent and
Kr. Dansom following the visit.
I am delighted tɔ be able to confirm to you that Er. Dunom fomad Tony
fit and in reasonably good spirits.
Mr. Denson passed on your message and Tony gave him the following one
for your
"Dearest Mother, I am well and I hope you are not worrying about me so
much. Kr. Garside em cenfirm that I am looking more relaxed and more fit
than when he last saw Be. All my love, Tony."
Mr. Denson has also telegraphed a short report on his visit which you
night like to haTO. Mr. Denson WES accompanied by the Consui, Ir.
Garside, who visited Tony last November with Mr. Cradock. On this
occasion the visit lasted forty minutes, which was a little longer than
last time. Mr. Denson reported that throughout the visit Tony was
entirely relaxed and composed. Tony confirmed that improvemente in his
conditions described in his letter to yen had been maintained and that
he found being able to listen to the radio a great solace. (Recently he
had boon supplied with sons new batteries by the Chinese.) He said that
his domestie arrangements were satisfactory, his boy, his cook and his
such still being with hin, He was, however, short of reading material as
he had read all his own books and only received the weekly osŋy of
"Peking Review". Xr. Denson promised to try to send some books if
possible,
Tony also said that it was about a month since he had had a letter from
you.
Kr. Denson will be sending you a full accomt of how he found Tony.
Meantime you can semat on us all to continue our efforts to secure
Tony's release just as soon as possible.
Xrs. Agnes Grey;
16 Kalvern Road,
FOR+ICH, Norfolk,
(James Hurray)
Head, Far Eastern Department
Registry No.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Socity
Secret
Confidential. Restocked. Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
DRAFT Letter
Type 1 +
To:-
Hra. Agnes Grey, 16 Malvern Road,
Norwich, Norfolk.
From James Murray
Telephone No. & Ext.
Department
In Confidence
You remember that
You wished Utley th
we well the in
the f...o cqui
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGINË
(118300) 29. 391999 - 1,500w 2/69 Hw.
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Mr Foley I
Mumay
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To Lung
вишня uded
Reuter
(Recently he has
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Catering bang the
Channes)
14
Mr
Brian Horton of Reuters told you last week that Mr.
John Denson, our Chargé d'Affaires, would be seeing
atmanly your son today in Peking; and you will no doubt have 2
the Reuters report of a conversation by
telephone between/Reuters Moscow correspondent and
[read
feger
the
Che able to Mr
Denson following the visit. I am delighted to tell
Tung you that Mr. Denson found af fit and in reasonably
b
good spirits.
Kr. Denson passed on your message and Tony gave
him the following one for you:
"Dearest Mother, I am well and I hope you
are not worrying about me so much.
Mr. Garside can confirm that I am looking
more relaxed and more fit than when he
last saw me. All my love, Tony."
the visit lasted
Mr. Denson has also telegraphed a short report on his
visit which you might like to have,
forty minutes which was a little longer than last time
was accompanied by the Consul, Mr. Garside, who
visited Tony last November with Mr. Cradock, On Maris occasuint
Kr. Denson reported that throughout the visit Tony was
Tames entirely relaxed and composed. He confirmed that
improvements in his conditions described in his letter
to you had been maintained and that he found being able
to listen to the radio a great solace He did say that
Andando He said that his
仇
mangat was subinforting, his bag. Is with, and bind what sheeting with
him
/He was
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
WEL 31-7406
Mr Denzon
to hug von is that to send some bathr if gamble
hans
he was/short of reading material as he had read
all his own books and only received the weekly
This
copy of "Peking Review" He also added that he
**
Iman he has had hed net received a letter from you. in the past
whart a
#cðvim for the past two
Mr/Denson
Denson will be sending you later a
full account of how he found Tony.
Me contine
You can comment on
wo and to contume and effects
to wane Tony's ubrane s'int
perouble.
CYPHER/CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
NO. 413
CONFIDENTIAL
14 JULY 1969
Ri
885
TOP COPY
isali
Addressed to F.C.0. Tel. No. 413 of 14 July, repeated for information to
Hong Kong.
Ky Tel. No. 410.
882
Though it was stipulated on arrival that visit was to be for
25 minutes, we were allowed 40 minutes. Grey had been given only 20
minutes notice of cur arrival.
2. Garside has confirmed that Grey was much more relaxed than he was
during the visit in November. He himself attributed this to
recent improvements in his conditions. The letter to his mother had he
said been written in such a way as to give her as much encouragement as
possible. His conditions of course remained extremely irksome as he was
still under close surveillance by 6 guards and there was considerable
noise throughout the night. He found himself very short of reading
material. I undertook that we would try to send him books and
newspapers. He was not particularly worried about the hold up in arrival
of the letters as he said similar delays had occurred before.
In normal circumstances he received about 1 letter a month from his
mother and 3 or ↳ a month from Miss KcGuinn and was allowed to send only
1 letter a month to one or the other.
3. Grey said that he had no contact with Chinese authorities
except his guards. He had no clear idea of what the Chinese had said
about his release. I explained the position adding that the sentence of
1 newsworker had been commuted, that the sentences of some other long
term prisoners had also been commuted and a review of the other cases
was proceeding. Apart from saying that "Release could not come too soon"
he made no comment, but did not appear upset.
/4. Grey
CONFIDENTI AL
CONFIDENTIAL
-2-
4. Grey asked what had become of some of his belongings from which
he had been parted at the time of his detention i.e. some clothes which
had been sent to be washed and brief case containing among other things
his passport and health documents. We are making enquiries about
these items but think that the second was probably destroyed when office
was burnt (we should be glad if you could consult Weston and Blishen).
We assured Grey there would be no difficulty about the
issue of a new passport.
5.
Grey said that he listened to the radio from about 5 p.m. to midnight
every day and was able to receive the B.B.C. clearly. There
was no restriction on his listening. Recently he had been supplied
with some new batteries by the Chinese. Domestic arrangements were
satisfactory, his boy, cook and Amah still being with him, On 28/29 Yay
slogans in the courtyard, the corridor and the three rooms upstairs had
been removed but slogans had been left in the two rooms
to which he was confined. The room in which we were received which
is occupied by public security guards had been re-decorated on 11 July
6.
-
the day after my call at Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
By the end of the interview when we were able to have some discussion on
general subjects, Grey was sufficiently relaxed to smile quite readily
and share jokes.
F.C.O. pass immediate Hong Kong.
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED"
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
MR. DENS ON
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION:
F.Eastern D.
H.K.D.
News D.
Cons.D.
I.R.D. I.P.D.
DDDDD
CONFIDENTIAL
1
TOP COPY
EN CLAIR
IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELNO 414
14 JULY, 1969
UNCLASSIFIED
RECEIVED IN
*N.50
15 JUL 1969
ADDRESSED TO FCO TELNO, 414 OF 14 JULY RFI HONGKONG,
FEL
YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 232.
879.
GREY].
1 SPOKE TO JOURNALISTS ON THE LINES AGREED AND GAVE
FULL BRIEFING TO REUTERS BY TELEPHONE.
MR. DENSON
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.E.D.
H.K.D.
NEWS DEPT.
CONS DEPT.
I.R.D.
I.P.D.
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
P.
высоко
EN CLAIR
IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELNO 411 14 JULY, 1969
UNCLASSIFIED
TOP COi
ADDRESSED TO FCO TELNO,411 OF 14 JULY, RF HONGKONG,
882
MIPT. MESSAGES.
R.GI 18
15 JUL 1969
FEL BSC
TO MRS GREY.
DEAREST MOTHER I AM WELL AND I HOPE YOU ARE NOT WORRYING
ABOUT ME SO MUCH.
MR GARSIDE CAN CONFIRM THAT I AM LOOKING MORE RELAXED
AND MORE FIT THAN WHEN HE LAST SAW ME.
ALL MY LOVE TONY.
TO MISS SHIRLEY MCGUINN 1
THANK YOU FOR YOUR MESSAGES AND LETTERS.
1 AM WELL AND LOOKING FORWARD VERY MUCH TO SEEING YOU.
LOVE FROM TONY.
TO MR GERALD LONG AND MR GREY'S COLLEAGUES ON THE FOURTH FLOOR
AT REUTERS:
THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECENT CABLE ON MY BIRTHDAY.
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU SOON. TONY,
MR. DENSON
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.E.D.
Po
وا ماء سلام
H.K.D.
NEWS DEPT.
CONS DEPT.
I.R.D.
I.P.D.
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
885
EN CLAIR
TOP CO
IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
14 JULY 1969
TELNO 410
UNCLASSIFIED
ADDRESSED TO FCO TELNO.416 OF 14 JULY, RFI TO HONGKONG.
GARSIDE AND I SAW GREY TODAY FOR FORTY MINUTES. HE/TOREREIVED IN
US THAT HE WAS FEELING FIT.
HE WAS ENTIRELY RELAXED AND COMPOSED THROUGHOUT.
REGION.50 15 JUL 1969
Ec
Huli
HE CONFIRMED THAT IMPROVEMENTS IN HIS CONDITIONS DESCRIBED
IN LETTER TO HIS MOTHER HAD BEEN MAINTAINED.
HE FOUND BEING ABLE TO LISTEN TO THE RADIO A GREAT SOLACE.
HE SAID HE WAS SHORT OF READING MATERIAL AS HE HAD READ
ALL HIS OWN BOOKS AND ONLY RECEIVED THE WEEKLY COPY OF THE
PEKING REVIEW.
HE HAD RECEIVED NO LETTER FROM HIS MOTHER IN THE PAST MONTH
NOR FROM MISS MCGUINN FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS.
2. HE HAD HEARD MR HEALEY'S STATEMENT IN HONGKONG. I MADE
THE POSITION CLEAR IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS IN
YOUR TELEGRAM NO.21219.
31 PASSED ON MESSAGES, RETURN MESSAGES TO HIS MOTHER
REUTERS AND MISS MCGUINN ARE CONTAINED IN MY IMMEDIATEL
FOLLOWING TELEGRAM.
MR. DENSON
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F. EASTERN 0. H.K.D.
LYCW
10/2
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
NEWS D.
CONS. D.
ჯ.გ.
1.8.0.
I.P.D.
CONFIDENTIAL
88
TOP COPY
CYPHER/CAT A
IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 131 TO PEKING 12 JULY 1969
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN
R
1500 49
FEL 13.
ADDRESSED PEKING TELNO 131 OF 12 JULY REPEATED FC 0.
YOUR TELEGRAM 406 TO F C 0; GREY.
878
I AGREE. MY ONLY COMMENT IS THAT THE ELEVEN PRISONERS HERE SHOULD BE
CALLED **NEWSWORKERS'', NOT JOURNALISTS.
CV
WE HAVE NOT YET HEARD FROM NCNA ABCUT A VISIT HERE.
(F C O PLS PASS IMMEDIATE TO PEKING)
SIR D. TRENCH
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED/
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
FAR EASTERN DEPT.
CONSULAR DEPT.
HONG KONG DEPT.
I.P.D.
I.R.D.
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
во
NEWS DEPT.
р-с
14/1
CONFIDENTIAL
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO
CLAIR
IMMEDIATE
TELNO 233
UNCLASSIFIED
11 JULY 1969 (F.E.D.)
TO COPY
880
PEKING
DDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 233 OF 11 JULY REPEATED FOR
INFORMATION TO GOV HONG KONG.
YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 4031 GREY.
FOLLOWING ARE MESSAGES FOR GREY.
FROM MRS. GREY.
BEGINS
WE ARE HOPING TO SEE YOU FOR CHRISTMAS. I AM SO GLAD, DEAR, THAT YOUR
HEALTH IS BETTER AND THAT THINGS ARE EASIER. I LOOK FORWARD D EVERY
LETTER. WE ARE ALL WELL THIS END LOVE MUM.
ENDS.
FROM MR. LONG, GENERAL MANAGER OF REUTERS, EGINS
I HOPE THAT YOUR FREEDOM WILL SOON BE RESTORED. PLEASE BE ASSURED HAT
REUTERS IS CONTINUING ITS EFFORTS ON ALL SI DES. MEANWHILE I END YOU
WARMEST GREETINGS, AND THE EXPRESSION OF ALL OUR ADMIRATION
AT YOUR COURAGE,
ENDS.
FROM COLLEAGUES IN REUTERS. BEGINS
CHEERS, TONY FROM FOURTH FLOOR, WE EXPECT TO SEE YOU BACK SOON. ALL
COLLEAGUES HERE HAVE YOU CONSTANTLY IN THEIR THOUGHTS THESE LAST TWO
YEARS AND ARE PROUD AT THE REAL NEWSPAPERMAN'S TOUGHNESS, ENDS.
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