HC Deb 17 February 1969 vol 778 cc33-5
34. Mr. Molloy

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement regarding the illegal imprisonment of Mr. Anthony Grey by the Chinese authorities.

Mr. M. Stewart

I have nothing to add to the reply my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State gave to the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Eldon Griffiths) on 20th January.—[Vol. 776, c. 29–30.]

Mr. Molloy

With respect, that is not a completely satisfactory reply. One would have thought that there would have been something more to report to the House. Is my right hon. Friend keeping in touch with the relatives of Mr. Grey and his colleagues in the journalistic profession? Will my right hon. Friend assure the House that he will endeavour to keep up the pressure to see that this disgusting crime which the Chinese have perpetrated on this man is ended as swiftly as possible?

Mr. Stewart

Yes. My reply did not mean that we had ceased to make representations about this. We have kept in touch with both Mr. Grey's relatives and his colleagues. I think that the House agrees with the description given by my hon. Friend of the Chinese Government's action.

Mr. Peyton

Although the Government may have been absolutely justified at the start in observing an attitude of great restraint towards the Chinese Government, has not the time come for some international condemnation of their totally uncivilised policies?

Mr. Stewart

There has been widespread condemnation of the Chinese Government's action, not only by this country but by other countries. We are by no means the only country whose citizens are being treated in this manner. I would remind the House that in recent months some British subjects who were previously detained have been released. For the present we must proceed to handle this matter as we now are.

Mr. Manuel

Does my right hon. Friend not recognise that some of us have constituents who have been detained for many months and that we are reaching the end of our patience? Will he consider relieving hon. Members from the constant anxiety and messages from relatives? Will he send someone out from the Foreign Office to see where these people are? We cannot even discover where they are or what prison they are in.

Mr. Stewart

I by no means underestimate the anxiety of the families of these British subjects or the feelings of hon. Members about this. My hon. Friend will realise that our power to discover even in some cases where they are is limited, but we are in continual touch with the Chinese Government about this. We have been able to make some progress.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

Although we are naturally very impatient—I have no doubt that the right hon. Gentleman understands that—and it is very important that our restraint should not be misunderstood overseas, is it not at the same time necessary for all of us to recognise that what we are trying to do is the best for Mr. Grey?

Mr. Stewart

I entirely agree with the right hon. Gentleman.

Mr. Whitaker

Will the new British chargé d'affaires, when he arrives in Peking, ask for consular access to the other British subjects detained there, including my constituents, the Gordon family and their 13-year-old son, with whom there has been no contact for 17 months?

Mr. Stewart

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Hastings

What about the British sea captain and the yachts mentioned by my hon. Friend the Member for Macclesfield (Sir A. V. Harvey)? When will the Foreign Secretary make a statement about these, and what does he propose?

Mr. Stewart

That is beyond today's Question, but I will consider whether it would be proper to make a statement.