CHINA (DETAINED BRITISH SUBJECTS) (Hansard, 20 March 1968)

§ 77. Mr. A. ROYLE
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the detention of Mr. Watt, a British citizen working on an industrial project in the People's Republic of China.

§ The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Michael Stewart)
With permission, Mr. Speaker, I would like now to reply to Question No. 77.
Mr. Watt is employed by Vickers-Zimmer Limited, who have a contract to erect a plant at Lanchow in China. He was detained in an hotel there on 26th September, 1967, and despite repeated and vigorous representations by our Mission in Peking and inquiries by the company, the Chinese authorities gave no official intimation of the charges against him.
On 12th March, the Chinese New China News Agency reported that Mr. Watt and Mr. Deckart, a German national working for the same company in Lanchow, had been held on charges of espionage and, on 16th March, that Mr. Watt had been sentenced to three years' imprisonment and Mr. Deckart to deportation. The British Charge d'Affaires has again approached the Chinese for details of the charges and of the trial and for consular access. We regard this course of events as deplorable and we shall do all we can to help Mr. Watt.

§ Mr. Royle
Is the Secretary of State aware that this is another instance of disgraceful treatment of British subjects in China, and that apparently no efforts have yet been made to get consular access to another British subject, Mr. Grey, who is also under detention in Peking? What action is to be taken in this case?

§ Mr. Stewart
We are attempting to get consular access to him.

§ Sir Alec Douglas-Home
May I welcome the right hon. Gentleman back to office? This is a serious matter, because there have been two British subjects detained in a matter of weeks. Will he 423 make the strongest possible representations to the Chinese, because this is a situation which cannot be tolerated and there must be some retaliatory action taken if this is to go on?

§ Mr. Stewart
Yes, Sir, we shall do everything we can and everything that is appropriate that might help either of these British subjects. The right hon. Gentleman spoke of retaliatory action. I am sure he will understand that one would have to consider when a suggestion of that kind was made whether it would be appropriate and whether it would help.

§ Mr. Hastings
Is it not up to the Foreign Secretary to consider what should be done about the retaliatory action and not to leave it to others to suggest it in these circumstances?

§ Mr. Stewart
I do not think the hon. Member understood what I was saying. In events like this the question of retaliatory action is nearly always made from every quarter, but we did consider this. I said that in the consideration of that one has to ask very carefully whether such action would be helpful.

§ Mr. Cronin
Is it not plain that there is no effective retaliatory action which my right hon. Friend can take and his energies might be much more usefully employed by warning people against travelling in such countries?

§ Mr. Stewart
Only a limited number of business men travel to China, and most of them are experienced in the hazards and risks of so doing. I agree with my hon. Friend that people travelling to China who are not experienced 424 would be well advised to consult me or my Department before they go.

§ Mr. Eldon Griffiths
Has the right hon. Gentleman personally sent for the Chinese representative in London and put to him generally the strong feelings of the British people about their fellow citizens being mistreated in this fashion? Will he personally undertake to see the Chinese Chargé d'Affaires to express the feelings of this House?

§ Mr. Stewart
I have not myself taken that action yet—[HON. MEMBERS: "Why not?"]—but Her Majesty's Government of course—

§ Sir G. Nabarro
Why not? Or did George do it as a valedictory act?

§ Mr. Stewart
The hon. Member should realise that this is a serious matter. If that or any other action seems likely to help these men, we shall certainly take it.

§ Sir A. V. Harvey
Will the Foreign Secretary not agree that this Government and previous Governments have encouraged trade with China? The balance of trade is in favour of China. Will he point out in the strongest possible terms that if they want this to continue British people have to be treated reasonably?

§ Mr. Stewart
That is one possible line of action, but I have to consider whether that would help in this case. As the House knows, our relations with China, and, of course, not only our relations but those of most other countries, have been bad, particularly during the period of the excesses of the Red Guards. There are some signs—I say this with caution—of a slight improvement and it is possible that that trend may continue.