TNAG-0033-FCO40-69-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 160

Cypher/Cat A

PRIORITY PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno. 830

CoIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

7 September 1968

Addressed to F.0. telegram No. 830 of 7 September

Repeated for information

to:

Hong Kong.

807

Your telegram No. 815.8%,

Hunter obtained an interview with Ch'i (a junior official of News Department) this morning.

2.

Hunter expressed concern at reports that Grey had been complaining in recent letters about his health, in particuler sbout a stomach complaint. He said the already considerable concern about Grey in British Press and among the British public would be further increased by this news. He requested immediate consular access to Grey and

also asked

3.

(a) whether Grey had indeed been ill and what his state of health was now;

(b)

whether he had been and was now receiving proper and regulər medical attention, and a special diet suitable for his condition.

Hunter expressed strong dissatisfaction that Grey was not being allowed to receive all his incoming mail and requested that in future letters addressed to him should be delivered. He also explained Grey's difficulty about clothes (your telegram No. 809) and requested Chinese to make arran.ements for him to obtain new shirts and sewing cotton, if necessary throuch this office. Hunter requested an answer within 2 or 3 days to our application for consular access and to the questions on Grey's health and said that if a prompt and satisfactory answer was not forthcoming, we (and British public opinion) should have no option but to draw unfavourable conclusions about Grey's health.

4. In reply Ch'i undertook to report the application for access and requests for information about Grey. However, he denied that we had any grounds for complaint about Grey's health and general situation, which Sir Donald Hopson had seen for himself in April. Ch'i said Grey's treatment was excellent and could not be compared with that given to families of news workers imprisoned in Hong Kong. On mail facilities, he said Grey was allo ed to receive letters from "home". and to write one letter to his mother and one to his girl friend every month. Other items of mail were put on one side to await the time when Grey recovered his freedom. He said articles in newpapers which suggested that Grey's muil facilities were being obstructed were groundless. Furthermore, it would be irresponsible for the British side to draw unreasonable conclusions acout Grey's condition from the way the Chinese side chose to reply to our enquiries. As regards public concern about Grey. the Chinese people were greatly concerned

LAST

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CONFIDENTIAL

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