Cypher/Cat A
PEKING
Teino 548
CONFIDENTIAL
TO
CONFIDENTIAL
FOREIGN OFFICE
24 April 1968
518 A
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 348 of 24 April, Repeated for information to Hong Kong.
My telegram No. 341: Grey.
Visit to Grey showed that worst aspect or his condition is his isolation. I therefore suggest our immediate efforts should concentrate on securing improvements in this respect.
2. Clearly best thing would be if we could get Consular access on a regular, say monthly pasis. I therefore recommend that I should ask Chinese for another visit to Grey in May, pointing out that isolation he suffers is very much worse than that of Communist prisoners in Hong Kong who in any case enjoy privilege of regular monthly visits. I might refer to and re but complaints from Lo Kue-po and NCNA Hong Kong on alleged isolation of Communist prisoners and contrast their regime with complete isolation in which Grey has been kept.
3. It is of course unlikely that we shall get what we want as easily as that. I hope therefore I may at the same time be authorised if and when Chinese turn down this request immediately to offer another round of special visits to Communist newspaper workers in Hong Kong prisons in return for a further visit to Grey. I might offer these visits on similar conditions to last time.
4. I would also propose to ask that Grey should be allowed other comforts such as more books and magazines and letters in and out. In these respects also his condition is worse than that of Communist prisoners. As a longer shot I would also ask for a gramophone and records, a wireless and a telephone.
5. I shall telegraph separately on the question or possible moves to secure release of Grey.
Foreign Office pass Priority Hong Kong 246.
Sir D. Hopson
F.0.
[Repeated as requested]
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CONFIDENTIAL
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