RAWALPINDI: The Chinese Government is “fully justified” in continuing to restrict the freedom of movement of Reuter correspondent in Peking, Mr Anthony Grey, since the Hong Kong British authorities “continue to keep the 13 patriotic Chinese journalists in jail”, a statement issued here yesterday [Jan 1] by the Chinese embassy said.

This is the “consistent stand” of the Chinese Government and the British Government would “absolutely achieve nothing in its efforts” to force Peking to change it, it said. The statement refuted the British Premier Harold Wilson’s statement in Parliament on Dec 3 that Mr Grey’s detention was “totally unjustified”. It also termed as “slander” the British Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Secretary Michael Stewarts’ earlier statement that Mr Grey had been confined “under inhuman restraints” and the British Hong Kong authorities’ accusation that the concerned Chinese authorities had not shown respect for the normal standards of civilised behaviour.

The statement said Mr Grey, who was being treated “leniently”, still lived in his house and conditions for his “everyday life are the same as they were before his movement was restricted”. On Nov 26, it pointed out, the British Charge d’affaires and second Secretary in Peking saw Mr Grey and they admitted afterwards that he “looked physically quite well”.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2019