1. Diet:
Insufficient nourishment and not enough variety in diet. Also a request that visitors should be allowed to supply them with victuals such as soup, eggs, etc. As I mentioned above, the diet is superior to the ordinary Prison Diet and the Detention Authorities gave me their assurance that they are trying their very best to vary the diet as much as possible, but apart from fruit and sweets they cannot allow visitors to bring in any other food.
2. Ventilation The ventilation in the cells is insufficient and
they would like to see the cell door opened. This request, of course, speaks for itself but as also mentioned above, as soon as Block 'C' has been renovated, this aspect will have greatly improved.
3. "Malnutrition"
4. Reading
Matters:
5. Exercise:
They claim that due to "malnutrition" there has been skin disease, kidney troubles, swelling of limbs, falling out of hair and teeth etc.
I was given the name and number of one particular detainee apparently suffering due to "malnutrition" and looked through his medical reports. He is
the oldest detainee and suffers from rheumatism and recently had some abdominal troubles, but he is receiving medical attention and seemed to be alright when I saw him although he refused to speak to me.
One of the inmates I interviewed also claimed to have lost a great deal of weight. Going through his weight record he was checked in in July, 1967, at 131 lbs, and then varied from a low of 129 lbs to a high a few months ago of 139 lbs., being now 133 lbs.
They want to read their own literature and it is obvious that the authorities cannot grant this request since it would concern strictly left-wing propoganda matters, but they do receive neutral newspapers and radios have been installed since my last visit where news from Radio Hongkong is being switched on as well as music. However, I am told that the detainees take no interest in it.
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They would like to see the exercise periods still further extended. As you know, there has been an improvement from 50 to 100 minutes a day, but
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