TNAG-0113-FCO40-149-Detainees-and-prisoners-following-19671968-disturbances-1969 — Page 69

K

1. Gommara 246

GOVERNMENT PETITIONED OVER BRITONS IN CHINA

IMMEDIATE GOVERNMENT ACTION WAS DEMANDED

Hory Kay Bapt Far Castem.

IN LONDON TODAY IN A PETITION SIGHED BY 52 RELATIVES OF MR AND MRS ERIC GORDON AND THEIR 13-YEAR-OLD SON KIM, WHO DISAPPEARED IN CHINA TOWARDS THE END OF 1967, WRITES THE PRESS ASSOCIATION DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT IT WAS HANDED TO IR FRED MULLEY, MINISTER OF STATE FOR FORSIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, BY MR GORDON'S FATHER, MR SAM GORDON, OF HOVE, (SUSSEX)

MR GORDON AFTERWARDS APPEALED TO THE PUBLIC TO WRITE TO TIEIR M.P.S UDGING THEM TO TABLE A MOTION BEFORE THE SUMMER RECESS IN ORDER TO BRING ABOUT AN ALLEVIATION OF THIS DISTRESSFUL SITUATION".

MR GORDON SAID HE WAS NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE WAY FOREIGH AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE WAS HANDLING THE SITUATION. HE SAID THEY HAD TRIED TO CONTACT HIS SON THROUGH DIPLOMATIC CHAMELS.

THE PETITION URGED NEGOTIATIONS TO SECURE THE RELEASE

OF IR AND TIRS GORDON AND THEIR SON AND ALL OTHER DETAINED BRITONS, IN EXCHANGE FOR THE CHINESE JOURNALISTS AND WORKERS IMPRISONED IN HONG KONG.

A FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE SPOKESHAN SAID LATER THAT REPRESENTATIONS ABOUT BRITISH SUBJECTS DETAINED IN CHINA WERE MADE IN PEKING EVERY FOUR OR SIX WEEKS.

THESE VERE BACKED UP BY TELEPHONE REPRESENTATIOMS AS FREQUENTLY AS ONCE A WEEK.

Med denn

1614

аккуп

K.271

For prisoners file pl.

5.6.69.