556
CONFIDENTIAL
Cypher Cat A
PRIORITY PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
Tel No. 452
CONFIDENTIAL
20 May, 1958
Addressed to Foreign Office telno. 452 of 20 May repeated for information to Hong Kong.
My immediately preceding telegram.
This was a long and abrasive interview. Our points were registered, but the Chinese attitude was unyielding and I would not (repeat not) expect us to succeed in bringing about much change in Grey's situation in this way. It was fairly clear that the Chinese link further visits to him to further special visits to News workers in prison in Hong Kong, I shall now prompt the West German correspondent, who is a friend of Grey, and possibly other friends in Foreign Missions, to apply for an interview with him but I see little hope of these requests being granted.
On matters of detail, two new points emerged about Grey's present treatment:
2.
3.
(a) Grey has recently written at least one letter home, and
(b) he is sometimes allowed upstairs in his house to fetch
belongings.
Compared with what Grey told me when I saw him on 23 April, (b) seems new minor concession by the Chinese. The Chinese claim that Grey's conditions had improved rather than deteriorated probably refers to improvement in his food after first few months, as [? gps omitted] when he also moved to a larger room as he intimated to me on 23 April.
F.0. pass Hong Kong 327.
Sir D. Hopson
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION:
F.O. F.E.D.
Consular Dept.
I.R.D.
Defence Dept.
P.U.S.D. News Dept.
[Repeated as requested]
LA.
P
C.0. H.K.D. S.A.D. F.E.P.D. News Dept.
CONFIDENTIAL
1.
At.
As 30/5
p.a.