CONFIDENTIAL
Cypher/Cat A
PRIORITY PEKING
ΤΟ
FOREIGN OFFICE
Telno 356
27 April 1968
LAST
518A
528
CONFIDENTIAL
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 56 of 26 April, Repeated for information to Hong Kong.
SI8A
My telegramı No. 246: Grey.
It would be useful for me in discussing improvements in Grey's conditions with the Chinese to know from Hong kong the following additional points about treatment or Communist prisoners there:
(a) How many of these prisoners are there to a cell?
(b) How much contact do they have with other prisoners?
opportunities do they have for conversation?
(c) Would Hong Kong confirm that there are still none in
solitary confinement?
What
(d) How frequently are they allowed to use prison library?
(e) Do they receive unlimited supplies or books and periodicals? (1) In practice how long do the regular monthly visits last?
(g) Are they allowed to receive messages from outside, passed
on by prison autnorities?
(h) Are they allowed cards or other forms of recreation?
they have any access to the radio?
Do
(i) Do they have access to officials to discuss their treatment
in prison anu to put forward complaints?
2. There is another point which I think it would be tactically useful to take up with the Chinese in any discussions on treatment of Grey. The M.F.A. statement or 21 July merely states that the Chinese Government had decided to restrict nis freedom of movement: "he must not leave his residence at will and must await further notice". But without informing us of any official decision to do so, the Chinese have made his regime far more rigorous than the statement suggests. He is not allowed free use of his residence for which he still pays full rent, nor is he allowed use or all nis possessions in the house. His telephone which he was able to use for the first month was cut off in August. His present treatment is inconsistent with the only official Chinese statement which we have had on his confinement and notably worse than that ne received during the first weeks of nis detention.
/ Foreign
CONFIDENTIAL