EN CLAIR
IMMEDIATE
TELNO 31
FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING
7 JANUARY 1968 (FED)
UNCLASSIFIED
237
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NO 31 OF 7 JANUARY REPEATED FOR INFORMATION ROUTINE TO HONGKONG FOLLOWING ARE EXTRACTS FROM AN ARTICLE ENTITLED QUOTE FORGOTTEN PRISONER OF PEKING UNQUOTE
OF FOREIGN NEWS PAGE OF TO DAYS SUNDAY TIMES.
NEW MOVES ARE BEING MADE TO FREE ANTHONY GREY THE 29 YEAR OLD BRITISH JOURNALIST WHO HAS BEEN IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT SINCE JULY IN HIS HOUSE IN PEK ING. MR ANTHONY ROYLE THE CONSERVATIVE MP WHO IS CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMONS ALL PARTY COMMITTEE ON HONGKONG, IS SEEKING AN ADJOURNMENT DEBATE, AND OTHER BEHIND-THE-SCENES MOVES ARE GOING ON.
CHINA.
MR ROYLE HAS ALREAD ASKED THE FOREIGN SECRETARY MR BROWN TO RE-IMPOSE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ON THE LON DON STAFF OF THE NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY. UNTIL NOVEMBER 22 TOUGH RESTRICTIONS WERE IN FORCE BECAUSE OF THE SACKING OF THE BRITISH MISSION IN PEKING- THESE WERE EASED WHEN THE UNION JACK WAS RAISED ONCE MORE IN CHINA. MR GREYS CHINESE DRIVER WAS PUBLICLY HUMILATED BEFORE THE MASSES IN A FOOTBALL STADIUM, HE WAS ACCUSED OF BEING A QUOTE COLLABORATOR WITH THE BRITISH SPY IMPERIALIST JOURNALIST GREY UNQUOTE. A WEEK AFTER BRITAIN LIFTED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ON CHINESE OFFICIALS IN LONDON IN NOVEMBER TO THEIR FORMER 35-MILE LIMIT, PEKING RELAXED RESTRICTIONS ON MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH MISSION IN CHINA, BUT GREY REMAINED UNDER HOUSE ARREST. CONSTANT BRITISH ATTEMPTS ARE BEING MADE TO GAIN CONSULAR ACCESS TO GREY, THE TWO NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY MEN IN PRISON IN HONGKONG ARE RECEIVING VISITS AND THE BRITISH ARGUE THAT GREY SHOULD AT LEAST RECEIVE PARITY OF TREATMENT. AT THE SAME TIME THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN TRYING TO STRIKE SOME KIND OF BARGAIN WITH THE CHINESE FOR GREY'S RELEASE - BUT NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT THIS AT THE MOMENT. AND MR DAVID CHIPP, REUTERS MANAGER FOR ASIA, MADE A TOUR OF SEVERAL FAR EAST COUNTRIES TO CONTACT THE CHINESE AND PLEAD FOR GREY'S RELEASE.
SOSFA
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.0. F.E.D.
NEWS DEPT.
C.O.
H.K.D.