U
in
L
DAILY MAIL
Kidnapped Briton flees China
From LEE CASEY HONGKONG, Monday
(Reuter)
A BRITISH police inspec- tor kidnapped by Chinese Communists 36 days ago reached Hongkong today after escaping from his armed guards.
In his all-night freedom flight, Senior Inspector Frank Knight waded through miles of ricefields and swam two rivers,
The inspector, a 37-year-old bachelor from Dagenham, Essex, was seized by the
GUARDIAN
Police officer
escapes from China
Hongkong, November 20 Inspector Frank Knight, of the Hongkong police, who was dragged across the border road bridge at Mankamto by mainland Chinese workers on October 14, crawled back into British territory through a drain early today after escaping from an army hostel where he had been locked in a small room.
Inspector Knight, aged 37, a bachelor, from Dagenham, Essex, had studied the guards' routine and prised up some window bolts. He escaped last night when one of his two guards went for a shower and the other went to answer the telephone.
"The border was only five miles away as the crow flies, but the way I went was more like 25 miles," Inspector Knight said.
It took him nearly 12 hours to cross paddy fields, make his way through "quite a big village," ditches and a sugar cane field. dodge armed border sentries and swim two small rivers.
Inspector Knight said that he hoped the escape would not further strain Sino-British rela- tions. He added: "It was a clean escape. No one was hurt. I hope the authorities in China will realise that no one wants to be kept locked up in a room for 36 days."-Reuter and UPI,
INSPECTOR KNIGHT Back in Hongkong
Was
Communists when he swept across a border bridge by # crowd of Chinese workers.
He was taken to an army hostel, locked in a small roosa and told “to be at peace.” No attempt was made to indoc- trinate him.
He studied the guards' routine and prised up some window bolts. His chance to escane came last night.
While one guard was hav- ing a bath and the other was on the telephone, Inspector Knight climbed through the window.
Nearly 12 hours after escap- Ing. crossing naddy fields, making his way through "quite a big village," dodging armed border sentries and swimming two small rivers, he crawled through 2 drain under the border fence into British territory.
Tired, soaked and shoeless. he was picked up by a British Army Jeep.
HOW I ESCAPED-BY KIDNAPPED BRITON
PRITISH police inspector Frank Knight escaped from China yesterday after being held captive for 37 days.
He dodged armed Chinese guards, swam two rivers and waded through ditches and miles of riceñelds before crawling across the border to Hong Kong.
Inspector Knight, a 37- year-old bachelor from Dagenham, Essex, had been held at a Chinese Army hostel.
No shoes
He said: "I waited till one guard was having his bath and the other was on the telephone. Then I climbed through 2 back window of the room.
"The border was only five miles away as the crow flies, but the way I went it was more like 25 miles."
A British Army Jeep picked him up 45 minutes after he had crossed the border, tired, soaked and shocless.
Chinese workers dragged
FRANK KNIGHT Free after 37 days
Inspector Kaight into China on October 14 dur- ing an argument on a bor- der bridge.
Some Hong Kong officials think the Chinese may have allowed him to escape. Inspector Knight does not think so.
He telephoned his 77- year-old father, Mr. George Knight, at Grove Gardens, Dagenham, to say he was safe. He is expected home on leave soon.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.