§ Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will continue his efforts to obtain the release of British persons now interned in China in return for the release of a similar number of Chinese persons now interned in Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
§ Mr. LuardFollowing the release of the Reuter's correspondent, Mr. Anthony Grey, we have received the welcome news that five other British subjects have been released from detention in China. We shall continue to press the Chinese for access and information in the cases of the seven other British subjects believed to be still in detention. With the exception of Mr. Watt who has been sentenced for espionage the Chinese have simply alleged that they are being held for violations of Chinese law. As regards the Chinese prisoners in Hong Kong they were arrested and sentenced in the courts to terms of imprisonment for their part in the violent disturbances in the Colony in 1967 and are in no way comparable to the British subjects detained in China.