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arities between the cases Mr Grey and of the tainees which Mr Rear has or ted to mention. First,
even the Chinese Governmen', with considerable honesty, have ever suggested that Mr Grey either mis- behaved or did anything to offend them, He has simply been detained. The detainees in Hong Kong, on the other hand, were deeply and openly involved in the violent activities which led to over fifty deaths, including the deaths of small children from indiscrim- inate bomb planting; and they were all a part of a concerted assault on the way of life of the non-communist majority in the community.
"Sccord, while the detainees have never been publicly accused, they have nevertheless all been accused and their cases most carefully examined by the Law Officers before detention orders were issued. Mr Grey, of course, has never been accused because it has never yet been suggested that he ever did anything to offend.
"Third, the detainees have all had a chance to appeal to an independent Committee of Review: Mr Grey has had no chance to plead his case before any authority.
"Fourth, no one knows, least of all Mr Grey, when he may be released. Detention orders are for one year and many detainees have been released before the year was up.
One has been redetained for good cause for one year and given a further chance to appeal to the Committee of Review.
"Last, Mr Grey has had one visit only during his incarceration. Detainees in Hong Kong may be, and are, visited at least once a month by relatives and friends and can be visited more frequently if occasion warrants. Nor are they held in virtual solitary confinement as is Mr Grey.
"I could elaborate the dissimilarities further, but I believe the above is enough to answer Mr Rear's highly tendentious arguments. Nobody likes detention procedures, least of all the Hong Kong authorities, but at least they have been used in Hong Kong with the greatest moderation bearing in mind the scale and severity of the events in 1967. At the height of the trouble, the maximum number of detainees ever in custody was 54, which I suggest compares very favourably with the similar measures other govern- ments have found it necessary to take when subjected to similar but certainly no more dangerous or violent situations."
Yours faithfully,
P.C.M. Sedgwick, Director, Hong Kong Government Office, London.
FROM THE SECRETARY, HONG KONG BAR ASSOCIATION
SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST,
November 16, 1968
"In the Thursday, November 14, issue of the South China Morning Post you gave prominence to Government's state- ment commenting on Mr John Rear's letter published in the London Times.
"It seems to the Bar Committee of the Hongkong Bar