fco-21-489-detention-of-anthony-grey — Page 14

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undertaking that Mr. Orey and other British subjects detained in Chime
would be free to proceed to the United Kingdom, The Chinese however
never took up the offer. were made to the Chinese Chargé d'Affaires in
London by Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers and senior officials
about the case of Mr. Grey (and the other British subjects

Representations

detained in China) on numerous occasions. Our Mission in Peking also
sade frequent representations.

CONFIDENTIAL

· 3 -

CYPHER/CAT A

CONFIDENTIAL

TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

FLASH PEKING

TELEGRAM NUMBER 573

CONFIDENTIAL

3 OCTOBER 1969

7004

TOP COFY

RELL REGISTRY IN

ADDSD TO FCO TELNO 573 OF 3 OCTOBER

KEI HONG KONG KARACHI MOSCOW PHNOM PENH DACCA

GARSIDE AND WALDEN CALLED AT GREY'S HOUSE ON THR

-3OCT 1969

FEC 134.

OCCASIONS THIS MORNING AND WERE REFUSED ENTRY EACH TIME.

ALL GUARDS REMAIN THERE AND ON THE LAST OCCASION TOLD THEM TO LEAVE
IMMEDIATELY+. A GUARD IN REPLY TO

A QUESTION ON WHETHER GREY WAS IN THE HOUSE STATED THAT

+HE DID NOT KNOW+.

2. THIS COULD BE MERELY BUREAUCRATIC SLOWNESS. IT IS

ALSO POSSIBLE THAT CHINESE-PERHAPS AFTER OBTAINING GREY'S + AGREEMENT+
MAY BE PLANNING TO PUT HIM

"

OVER THE BORDER AT LO WU OR ONTO AN INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT.

THE FIRST SCHEDULED FLIGHTS ARE AEROFLOT SU.012 ETA

MOSCOW 1955 HRS ON 4 OCTOBER, AND PK.

753ETA DACCA 1855 HRS ON 4 OCTOBER.

3. IF THERE IS NO FURTHER DEVELOPMENT BY 1600 HRS

PEKING TIME I WILL SEEK AN URGENT INTERVIEW WITH MEA

TO ENQUIRE WHETHER GREY'S FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT HAS BEEN

RESTORED AND TO REQUEST INFORMATION ON HIS MOVEMENTS, BUT

! DOUBT WHETHER I SHALL BE ABLE TO OBTAIN IT UNTIL TOMORROW

BECAUSE MINISTRY IS OFFICIALLY CLOSED TODAY

FCO PASS IMMEDIATE KARACHI MOSCOW PHNOM PENH AND DACCA

MR. DENSON

/REPEATED AS REQUESTED/

FILES

F.E.D.

H.K.DEPT. NEWS DEPT.

CONSULAR DEPT. MR. WILFORD

CONFIDENTIAL

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

RESTRICTED

1003

TOP COPY

CYPHER/CAT A

TO

INKEDIATE KOSCOW

IMMEDIATE MOSCOW TO PEKING TELNO 1

FOREIGN & COMMONWEALTH OFFICE 2 OCTOBER 1969

STRICTED

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NO 071 DATED 02 OCTOBER 1969

REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO FC0.

ANTHONY GREY.

IF GREY RETURNS TO LONDON VIA MOSCOW AFTER HIS RELEASE

}

= 3 OCT 1969

FEC 134/1

PLEASE WARN ME BY IMMEDIATE TELEGRAM AND STATE WHETHER YOU

WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN A SOVIET TRALS IT VISA FOR HIM BEFORE

HIS DEPARTURE. LOCAL BRITISH CORRESPONDENTS ARE EXPECTING

THAT HE WILL RETURN BY THIS ROUTE.

FCO PASS PEKING

BIR D. WILSON

FILE S

F.E.D.

HONG KONG DEPT.

CONSULAR DEPT. NEWS DEPT. P.U.S.D.

E.E.S.D.

SIR S. TOHLINSON

MR. WILFORD

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED] [ADVANCE COPIES SENT]

bir

ра

?????

·

RESTRICTED

CONFIDENTIAZ

Joce

Enter

Flag A

Hr. Hyfford

OFFICIAL ADVISE TO MR. ANTHONY GREY

RECE

RG

IN

- 3 OCT 1969

Fax mal 1989

In paragraph 4 of his telegram No. 562 of 29 September,

our Chargé d'Affaires in Peking asks for guidance on what

official advice he should give Mr. Grey about what to say

to the press once he has left China. I discussed the

matter in some detail with Zr. Long, General Kanager of

Reuters, yesterday.

RECOMMENDATION

2. I recommend that a reply be sent on the lines of the

attached draft telegram.

Copies to: Sir S. Tomlinson

News Department

Hong Kong Department concur.

Janu Munay.

CONFIDENTIAL

(James Murray)

1 October, 1969

Те остранной

Mrs.

ревитра

MR. MURRAY.

(2 cepino)

With the Compliments of the

Eules.

Mr Wilson Los

3OCT 196 Political Adviser = ubs.

FEC 134, Plong Kong brige hoe, on

p.*.

веровест

G.F. 1

Tool

T.S. 1/68

CONFIDENTIAL

339 $ 30 Sof

Second Draft 23/9/69

ANTHONY GRET: CONTINGENCY PLAN

The last of the "newsworkers" is likely to leave Stanley Frison on 3
October. We hope that Anthony Grey will be released soon after that.
There is a chance that he will be released before October 3.

2.

It is likely that we shall have no control over his movements after his
release. It is possible the Chinese may not let him leave China or may
expel him from China by a route of their choosing or that a decision
about the route will be taken in Peking by Anthony Grey himself, We are
doing what we can to see that he does not come to Hong Kong at all.

3.

If he does come to liong Kong our arrangements will have to be made in
the light of the following four considerations:-

Anthony Gray's mental and physical condition and his own wishes;

the views of the Reuters Deputy General Manager, Mr. Doon Campbell, who
plans to come to Hong Kong on about: October 1 to meet Grey;

(a)

(b)

(c)

che need to treat him with humanity and consideration;

(a)

the need to get him out of the Colony as soon as possible.

Immigration, hath and ravel arrangements

4.

It is very likely that he will have a valid British passport, either his
old one or a new one issued by the mission in Peking.

5.

So far as we know his health is reasonably good but it is unlikely that
he will have any inoculation certificates.

6.

We can assume that Reuters will meet any expenses for his accommodation
and travel tickets. They vill no doubt be available if necessary to do
any of the booking or other admin. work. They have a permanent
representative here, Mr. Derek Round (Tel. No. H.93417) who may on the
day be assisted by a number of people from London.

7.

If these optimistic assumptions about Grey's mental and physical
condition prove to be justified it is likely that the main problems will
be in connection with Anthony Grey's relations with the press during his
stay in the Colony. We have no: yet obtained any agreed understanding
with Reuters and the F.C.0. about press arrangements for Anthony Grey
but at the moment the following suggestions seem reasonable.

/Contd..

CONFIDENTIAL

G.F. 1

CONFIDENTIAL

2

If we have no varning at all of his arrival

8.

It is possible that at any time from now on Anthony Grey will simply
appear at Lo Wu without warning, presumably at about noon on the usual
train.

9.

As soon as he is recognised he should be taken into the private waiting
room whilst his documents are processed.

10.

11.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(a)

Reuters.

12.

The following should be informed immediately:

H.E.:

the Hon. C.S.;

the Political Adviser (Tel. No. H. 95428 (Office); H.96219 (Home)) or if
he is not available the Assistant Political Adviser (Tel. No. H.95345
(Office); H.222344 (Home));

the Director of Information Services (Tel.No. H.233191 (office);
H.248910 (Home)).

(Office);

The P.A. would then inform Mr. Derek Round,

It can be assumed that if Grey appears without varning there would be no
journalists or photographers at Lo Wu,

13.

As soon as his documents had been processed and provided Grey had no
urgent requirements, he would then be taken by the police in one of
their vehicles to a place of rendezvous where Grey can rest and meet the
P.A. or whoever else is available. It is for consider- ation where this
place should be, possibly P.H.Q. at Fanling. It has the advantage of
being secure but though it does not look like a police station it may
not be the ideal place for a recently released prisoner. D.C.N.T. has
suggested Island House, Tai Po as a possibility.

14.

If possible, D.I.S. and the P.A., or failing him the A.P.A., would go to
this place of rendezvous immediately.

15.

If possible, discussion with Grey on his plane would be left to the P.A.
or A.P.A. but it is only too likely that such postponement would not be
possible. If so, the senior Police Officer available would find out what
Grey's views were about his onward journey. Grey might have some special
wishes, e.g. to telephone to his mother and girl friend in England.
These wishes should be met unless there is some obvious reason to the
contrary, e.g. if he appears to be very disturbed.

16.

The Police officer would try to form a judgment whether Grey was in a
sufficiently calm state of mind to make it a reasonable proposition to
hold a press conference in the near future. The main point to be

/contd.

CONFIDENTIAL

GF. 32

CONFIDENTIAL

3

borne in mind is that Grey may have the idea that his two years'
incarceration is the fault of the Hong Kong Government for refusing to
do a deal over the release of the convicted "nevsvorkers". If Grey is
rabid on this

subject, we shall want to do our best to avoid any discussion with the
press whilst he is in Hong Kong. Hov ve persuade him not to meet the
press is a problem that requires further thought. If on the other hand
he is in a well balanced frame of mind and reasonable about the
responsibility of the Hong Kong Government, we shall no doubt have to
accept that he give the press conference and, if so, we might as well
take a hand in arranging it if necessary

But if Reuters are available it will be better to leave them to arrange
the press conference.

17.

No communication about Grey's arrival should be made to the press except
as soon as possible to Mr. Derek Round or Mr. Doon Campbell of Reuters
and to D.I.S. who will send out a general item of news to all the press.
It will be a delicate question for D.I.S. to decide how long to delay an
announcement.

18.

In view of our desire to get Grey out of the Colony as soon as possible
it would be best if he decided to leave on the first available plane. It
might then be reasonable to take him direct from Fanling to Kai Tak
either in a police car or possibly by helicopter.

19.

If on the other hand he wants to spend a night or more in Hong Kong we
would not want to prevent him doing so. Our main interest would be to
see that he was kept avay from the press. It is possible that Reuters
would want to put him into a hotel, possibly the Mandarin, though at
this time of year there is even the possibility that there may be no
room Free. Other possibilities would be that he might stay with Mr.
Derek Round. Or the P.A. would put him up and the offer could be made to
Grey without further reference.

20.

There would be no question of Grey calling on the Governor or the C,S.
If he asked to have contact with the Hong Kong Government he could see
the P.A. and of course D.I.S.

If we have varning of his arrival

21.

Most of the details suggested in the preceding section will apply but
there would have to be modifications in the press arrangements.

22. of:-

Reuters would like the party at Lo Wu to consist

(a)

(b)

ê

(c)

Mr. Doon Campbell, Deputy General Manager, Reuters:

Mr. Derek Round, Reuters Representative, Hong Kong;

Mr. Thomas Hudson, VISNEWS Representative;

/contd....

CONFIDENTIAL

[

G.F. M

(a)

CONFIDENTIAL

VISNEWS television cameraman;

(e)

a "pool" reporter;

(f)

a "pool" television cameraman;

23.

(g) a "pool" still photographer.

Alternatively, the arrangements might be roughly on the lines of those
made for Sir Donald Hopson's arrival in August 1968, i.e. a small "pool"
consisting of a Foreign Correspondent reporting for the whole press, an
official G.I.S. photographer whose photograph was issued to the press, a
film cameraman making his film available to all television companies and
a sound man working with him.

24.

Somewhere outside the Closed Area photographers from all agencies and
newspapers were given a chance to take photographs of Hopson but were
told that there would be no conversation. In Grey's case this
arrangement might not need to be made since the pool photographs at the
border should be adequate as they were in Hopson's case, but in view of
the greater interest in Grey it might be necessary to provide for such
an opportunity.

25.

It is recognised that both these arrangements carry a certain risk
depending on Grey's state of mind and attitude to the Hong Kong
Government but given the importance of the news item it is difficult to
believe that we could get away with less without causing considerable
trouble with Reuters and the press in general.

26.

Subject to Grey's condition and views there would be a press conference
later that evening. It would be arranged by Reuters, probably in one of
the hotels. Before it took place we (i.e. D.I.S. and P.A.) would do our
best to give Grey appropriate guidance.

27.

After the press conference Grey would refuse to make any more statements
to the press. He would leave

Hong Kong as soon as we could conveniently arrange it and would be in
the hands of Reuters meanwhile.

Distribution to:

Hon. C.S.

D.C.P.(2)

D.I.S.(2)

Col. Blomfield-Smith

D. of I.

D.C.N.T. P.A. (2) A.P.A.

D.S.

Mr. Denson (Peking)

Mr. J. Murray (F.Č.0.)(2)

CONFIDENTIAL

CYPHER/CAT A

CONFIDENTIAL

Toro

TOP COPY

TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

PRIORITY RAWALPINDI

ELNO 869

K

2 OCTOBER 1969

REGUTÝNA

- 2 OCT 1969

CONFIDENTIAL

Fee Bell

ADDRESSED TO F C O TELEGRAM NO 859 OF 2 OCTOBER RFI TO

PEKING HONG KONG ( LONDON PLEASE PASS TO BOTH) AND TO KARACHI

AND DACCA.

YOUR TELS TO PEKING NOS 339 AND 340

992

913

GREY.

I CAN SEE THERE MAY BE A NEED FOR GREY TO HAVE A REST

SOMEWHERE UNDER MEDICAL SUPERVISION BEFORE HE ARRIVES IN ENGLAND,

BUT I DO NOT THINK THAT KARACHI OR INDEED ANYWHERE ELSE IN

PAKISTAN WOULD BE SUITABLE. KARACHI ITSELF CAN BE VERY

HOT AND BUSTY AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR. MORE IMPORTANT ANY

PRESS ACCOUNTS OF HIS DETENTION APPEARING WITH A KARACHI

DATELINE MIGHT HAVE HARMFUL EFFECTS UPON OUR LINKS

WITH PAKISTAN. GIVEN THE PRESENT EUPHORIC STATE OF SINO-PAKISTAN

RELATIONS. I SHOULD MUCH PREFER GREYS STAY IN KARACHI TO

BE NO LONGER THAN IS NEEDED FOR HIM TO LINK UP WITH CAMPBELL.

CONFIDENTIAL

ро

Лапри

CONFIDENTIAL

2

2. FOX, THE DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER, DACCA, WHO IS SPENDING

A FEW DAYS HERE ON HIS WAY BACK TO HIS POST HAS BEEN SHOWN

THE LATEST TELEGRAMS INCLUDING THOSE FROM PACCA NOS 527

AND 532 ABOUT THE PRESENCE THERE OF EXPRESS AND TELEGRAPH

REPORTEPS, WHICH HAVE SINCE BEEN COPIED TO YOU. HE WILL

BE FLYING TO DACCA TOMORROW.

3.

KARACHI WILL BE REPLYING DIRECT TO QUESTION IN PARAGRAPH

3 OF YOUR TELEGRAM NO 348.

KR. TWIST

FILES

F.E. DEPT

HONG KONG DEPT

S. ASIAN DEPT

CONSULAR DEPT

NEWS DEPT

SIR S. TOMLINSON

MR. WILFORD

+

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

CONFIDENTIAL

L

TOP COPY

999

CYPHER/CATA

PRIORITY RAWALPINDI

RESTRICTED

TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE.

PRIORITY RAWALPINDI TELNO 357 TO DACCA 2 OCTOBER 1969

ESTRICTED

RECEIVED IN

ADDRESSED TO DACCA TELEGRAM NO 357 OF 2 OCTOBER/AKISTRY NO. 30 }

FCO.

1988

- 2 OCT 1969

FEC 13ch,

YOUR TELEGRAM NO 534:

GREY

992

F C O TELEGRAM MO 339 TO PEKING MAKES IT SEEM THAT SOMEONE

FROM OUR MISSION THERE WILL ACCOMPANY GREY AS FAR AS KARACHI,

IF HE COMES BY THAT PIA ROUTE VIA DACCA. SMALLWOODS PRESENCE

ON THE DACCA-KARACHI STAGE MAY THEREFORE NOT BE NECESSARY.

+

2. TO F C O * PLEASE NOTE DACCAS REQUEST IN TEL UNDER

REFERENCE TO BE KEPT INFORMED OF DATE AND TIME OF GREY'S

RELEASE.

MR. TWIST

1

FILES

F.E.D.

S. ASIAN D.

CONS. D.

H.K.D.

NEWS D.

SIR S. TOMLINSON

MR. WILFORD

RESTRICTED

расстро

TOP COPY

CYPHER/CAT A

IMMEDIATE RAWALPINDI

TELEGRAM NO, U/N

UNFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

2 OCTOBER 1969

FOLLOWING RECEIVED FROM DACCA

ADDRESSED TO RAWALPINDI TELNO 534 OF 2 OCTOBER.

ANTHONY GREY.

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No. 30 -2 OCT 1969

FEL 136

IF DOON CAMPBELL FLIES FROM HONG KONG/BANGKOK/DACCA HE IS LIKELY гO MISS
CHINA FLIGHT BY TEN MINUTES ON THURSDAY AND AN HOUR ON SATURDAY IF CHINA
FLIGHT ON TIME, UNLESS HE TRAVELS WELL IN ADVANCE WHICH IN CIRCUMSTANCES
SEEMS UNLIKELY.

2. EXPRESS MAN DONALD SEAMAN IS CURRENTLY IN DACCA FOR SOLE PURPOSE OF
INTERVIEWING GREY IN FLIGHT DACCA/KARACHI,

3. DAILY TELEGRAPH CORRESPONDENT DAVID LOSHAK ALSO ARRIVED IN JACCA.
OTHER CORRESPONDENTS MAY DESCEND ANY MOMENT.

4. IN EVENT OF GREY PASSING THROUGH DACCA WOULD YOU AGREE TO SMALLWOOD,
EX-FLEET STREET MAN KNOWN TO BOTH ABOVE NAMED AND MOST OTHERS LIKELY TO
COME TO DACCA (INCLUDING DOON CAMPBELL) TO TRAVEL ON GREY'S PLANE TO
KARACHI. HE IS QUITE CAPABLE OF ADVISING CAUTION ON EITHER SIDE AND GET
AWAY WITH IT (IF ANY QUESTIONS GET OUT OF HAND).

5. IF CORRESPONDENTS DO GET ON AIRCRAFT AT DACCA QUESTIONS, ¡NFORMAL,
WILL BE UNAVOIDABLE. BUT THEY COULD BE KEPT TO THE OBVIOUS, AND PERHAPS
CURTAILED.

HOWEVER

6. I AGAIN STRESS THE DESIRABILITY OF DACCA OFFICE BEING KEPT COMPLETELY
IN PICTURE ABOUT RELEASE DATE AND TIME. SEAMAN IS IN CONSTANT TOUCH WITH
HIS HONG KONG CORRESPONDENT VIA LONDON AND HE COULD CONCEIVABLY BE AHEAD
OF US WITH THIS INFORMATION.

MR TWIST

FILES

F.E.D.

STH ASIAN DEPT

CONSULAR DEPT

H.K.D.

NEWS DEPT

SIR S. TOMLINSON MR.WILFORD

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

CONFIDENTIAL

fm.

15/10

CYPHER/CAT A

PRIORITY KARACHI

TELEGRAM HUMBER 235

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

TOP COP

TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

ADDRESSED TO FCO TEL:10. 235 OF

REGIST.

- 20CT 1

2 OCTOBER 1969

OCTOLER REPEATED FOR

INFORMATION TO PEKING, HONG KONG, PHNOM PENH, (FCO

PLEASE PASS TO ALL PRIORITY) RAWALPINDI AND DACCA.

993

YOUR TELNO. 34% TO PEKING: ANTHONY GREY.

REUTERS HAVE ALREADY MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR GREY

TO RECEIVE ANY MEDICAL HELP HE MAY REQUIRE IN KARACHI FROM

A BRITISH DOCTOR WHO HAS A SMALL CLINIC HERE.

2.

REQUEST THAT AS SOON AS ANY POSITIVE FLIGHT DETAILS

ARE KNOWN POSTS ON THE ROUTE ARE INFORMED BY FLASH TELEGRAM.

MR. STOUT

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

FILES

F.E.D.

SOUTH ASIAN DEPT

H.K.D.

CONSULAR DEPT

NEWS DEPT

CONFIDENTIAL

lucspin

po

+

CYPHER/CAT A

CONFIDENTIAL

❤MMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELEGRAM NO. 344

TO PEKING

946

1 OCTOBER 1969 (FED)

FER 134/1

I

FIDENTIAL

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NO. 344 OF 1 OCTOBER REPEATED FOR

INFORMATION TO HONG KONG.

YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 562 : GREY.

989

WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING WHAT ADVICE YOU MIGHT GIVE TO GREY

ABOUT HIS CONTACT WITH THE PRESS OUTSIDE CHINA, WE THINK THAT

IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE SPECIFICALLY TO ASK HIM TO REFRAIN

FROM PUBLIC CRITICISM OF HMG: BUT THAT IT WOULD BE RIGHT FOR

YOU TO IMPRESS ON HIM THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT SAYING ANYTHING

WHICH MIGHT MAKE THINGS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE OTHER

BRITISH SUBJECTS REMAINING IN DETENTION IN CHINA,

2. WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE WHOLE MATTER WITH REUTERS, WHO HAVE

BEEN GIVING THOUGHT TO WHAT THEIR OWN REPRESENTATIVE SHOULD SAY TO GREY.
(THEY POINT OUT THAT OUR INTERESTS ARE COMPARABLE TO

THE EXTENT THAT IF GREY IS DISPOSED TO CRITICISE HMG FOR REFUSING

THE PREMATURE RELEASE OF THE NEWSWORKERS, HE WILL ALSO BE CRITICAL

OF REUTERS FOR NOT APPLYING MORE PRESSURE ON US. THEIR OWN MAJOR

CONCERN IS THAT GREY SHOULD NOT BEHAVE IN SUCH A WAY AS TO RESTRICT

HIS POSSIBILITIES IN FUTURE EMPLOYMENT WITH THEM), THEY THINK THAT,
SINCE GREY HAD THE REPUTATION AS A JOURNALIST OF BEING A FAIRLY DETACHED
AND OBJECTIVE OBSERVER, THE FOLLOWING LINE MIGHT

APPEAL TO HIM, THEY WOULD PROPOSE TO SAY THAT HE HAS NO DOUBT

FORMED A VIEW ABOUT HOW HIS CASE HAS BEEN HANDLED AND THE DURATION

OF HIS DETENTION: THAT THE VIEW MAY BE CORRECT BUT IS NECESSARILY

/BASED

CONFIDENTIAL

ро

thist

-

CONFIDENTIAL

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