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"AN
CYPHER/CAT A
IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NO 2291
SECRET
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFIC
30 DECEMBER 1968
ADDRESSED FCO TELEGRAM NO. 2291 OF 30TH DECEMBER REPEATED
PA SINGAPORE, WASHINGTON, HC CANBERRA AND SAVING TO PEKING.
FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE AND CABINET OFFICE FOR JIC.
FOLLOWING FROM LIC DRAFT ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION AS AT 0600
HOURS 30TH DECEMBER 1968 FOLLOWS.
THE PRINCIPAL FEATURES OF THE PERIOD HAVE BEEN:
CAD A CONTINUATION OF THE COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN REGARDING
PRISONERS AND DETAINEES (PARAGRAPH 1(A) TELEGRAM NO. 2269). AT
A PRESS CONFERENCE FOR SELECTED LOCAL AND FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS
ON 20TH DECEMBER (TELEGRAM NO. 2284) A PROMINENT COMMUNIST NEWSPAPER
PUBLISHER SPOKE AT LENGTH ON THIS ISSUE, AND IN SUM DEMANDED THE
CESSATION OF ILL-TREATMENT OF PRISONERS, THE REPEAL OF EMERGENCY
LEGISLATION AND THE RELEASE OF ALL CONFRONTATION PRISONERS AND
DETAINEES. HE ALSO SOUGHT TO JUSTIFY THE MANNER IN WHICH GREY IS
HELD AND HIS CONTINUED DETENTION, THOUGH WITHOUT SPECIFYING ANY
CONDITIONS FOR HIS RELEASE. THIS WAS GIVEN WIDE PROMINENCE IN
THE COMMUNIST PRESS, TOGETHER WITH A SUBSEQUENT N.C.N.A. CHONG KONG)
RELEASE, DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS. ON 29TH DECEMBER A N.C.N.A.
(PEKING) RELEASE ON THE SAME TOPIC (PEKING TELEGRAM NO. 1138) WHICH
INTER ALIA STATED THAT
QUOTE. SINCE THE HONG KONG BRITISH AUTHORITIES CONTINUE TO KEEP
THE THIRTEEN PATRIOTIC CHINESE JOURNALISTS IN JAIL, THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT IS FULLY JUSTIFIED IN CONTINUING TO RESTRICT GREY'S
FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT. THIS IS THE CONSISTENT STAND OF THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT UNQUOTE.
WAS ALSO GIVEN WIDESPREAD PRESS COVERAGE. NO DOUBT THIS OUTWARD
MANIFESTATION OF PEKING SUPPORT WILL GIVE FURTHER IMPETUS TO LOCAL
PROPAGANDA ON THIS SUBJECT.
T
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