515
CONFIDENTIAL
Cypher/Cat A
IMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
Telno. 341
23 April 1968
CONFIDENTIAL
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 341 of 23 April, Repeated for information to Hong Kong.
Si My telegram No. 334.
Weston and I saw Grey for 20 minutes this afternoon in his home. He was clearly overjoyed to see us. (He had been given only half hour's notice of our visit) and though he was naturally under some emotional stress there was no obvious change in his physical appearance and he looked quite well. He said in fact that he was in good health and had only had one stomach disorder in the first three months for which he had received medical attention at his home.
2.
After greetings, I read him message from his mother, Mr. Long and Reuter staff. I then told him of constant efforts which had been made both to see him and to obtain his release.
I also gave him some general idea that situation had calmed down both in China and in Hong Kong and that prospects for solving Sino-British difficulties appeared better now than they had for a long time. I assured him that Her Majesty's Government, Reuters and ourselves would continue our constant efforts to obtain his release.
3. In reply to questions, he said he was confined to one room on ground floor of his house to which had had moved following Red Guard incursion on 18 August, an event he was unwilling to discuss. He said that his food was now normal, implying it had not been so during the first few months, He continues to have services of his domestic staff. He is permitted to exercise twice daily for forty minutes each time in his courtyard. Although he is not free to use his personal books and belongings e.g. chessboard, in other rooms of his house, he has persuaded the guards to bring down a few books from upstairs and also received one parcel from us in December which included books. He is allowed to see the weekly Peking Review, and has also purchased books from foreign languages Press. He is not permitted a radio. He was therefore starved of news and did not know for example of the burning of our office last August.
4. As regards mail he has received regular letters from his girl friend for the past three months end also spasmodically from some friends in Peking. He said he has only received two letters from his mother over past nine months. Although he has sent an occasional telegram i.e. one to his mother a week ago he has not (repeat not) yet tried sending letters cut. I have therefore encouraged him to do so, I also suggested that he should try writing to the Press Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs occasionally requesting that his telephone should be reconnected.
/5. He said
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