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These powers of detention were directed against those few
persons in the Colony who organised the campaign of terrorism
(including bomb incidents) while carefully avoiding any action on
their own part which would bring them within the scope of legal
proceedings. On latest information there are 50 detainees.
Publicity has recently been given in Hong Kong to the case of a man
(Wong) and his wife (Yip) who was sentenced to five years
imprisonment last August for the possession of bombs. The couple
were released on 1 April, with a free pardon, when it was
discovered, as a result of recent police investigation into a
similar case, that the bombs had been "planted" on them.
If this case is raised, the Minister can say that compensation
of a little over £1,000 was offered to and accepted by the couple
in respect of their wrongful imprisonment. The person responsible
for "planting" the bombs on them has been sentenced to
imprisorment,
The present situation in Hong Kong
Violence has now virtually ceased in Hong Kong although the
occasional incident does occur from time to time.
HONG KONG DEPARTMENT.
14 May, 1968.