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5. He said he had seen no (repeat no) Chinese official since his detention began. He has three guards on standpoint none whom will converse with him in English. He said that the isol- ation was complete and terrible. At times he had felt on the verge of a nervous breakdown. In reply to my question he said he had not (repeat not) been accused of committing any offence nor had the Chinese discussed conditions for his release with him. In fact as stated above he had no contact whatever with Chinese officials.
6.
There has been apparently no effort to brainwash him apart from a natural nervousness of his behaviour and conversation was quite normal. He made a particular point of asking that his mother should be informed that he is in good health and that she should be asked to write more often.
7. I shall give gist of this to Western Press representatives when I see them later this afternoon. In view of his request in paragraph 6 above I shall omit any reference to his nervousness.
Foreign Office pass Hong Kong 242.
Sir D. Hopson.
[Repeated as requested]
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F.E.D.
Consular Dept.
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