Anthony Grey

Reading the review of the new Grey diaries [Making the best of it - Anthony Grey’s China ordeal in the ‘raw’], reminded me of the great and failed Reuter deception in which I had to take part. I suspect it was arranged for two reasons - one good and the other perhaps just Reuters trying to keep the scoop for itself.

Anthony's release was obviously of great interest to the media, especially Fleet Street, and London was keen, of course, to get him home. But there was concern about his state of health and mind after the long confinement. Though I understand he himself had indicated he was fine, the Peking embassy expressed some concern about his state; so everyone became protective. I was in Kuala Lumpur at the time and was advised by head office that among the options of smuggling him out (plane connections being limited at the time) without exposing him to newshounds, apparently was via Cambodia and KL. Another was obviously Hong Kong and several routes from there. I was put on alert to receive him with strict instructions not to let anyone know, especially not the voracious hacks from the Street, who were working out the possibilities for themselves. I was bombarded by the man from the Express and others and had to pretend that I had no idea what was going on. Others gathered in Hong Kong. Finally, the plan was to take him through Pakistan. And the best laid plans ... the hacks had worked it out and managed to book on the same plane and got their interviews.

One other footnote - at several postings thereafter, the office used to be visited by the resident or visiting Hsinhua rep who always made the point of apologising for what happened to Anthony. ■