made to the local branch of the liew China News Agency on 15th May,
1963 offering to release a person, at present detained at V.R.C. and
arrested in July last year for Chinese espionage activity, on the
understanding that the H.C.N.A. would make arrangements for his return
to China. It was pointed out that arrangements could be made to avoid
any publicity if this offer were to be accepted. After some delay
the reply from the N.C.N.A. categorically denied all knowledge of the
detainee concerned and stated that any attempt to deport him to Chine
would be unacceptable!
Possible means of arrencing return to China
8.
During the last months a careful study has been conducted
of the 52 detainees to ascertain whether they include any person who
might be important enough to the C.P.G. to be considered as a
bartering point, perhaps for the release of British Nationals detained
in China. The conclusion reached is that there is no such person at
present detained by Special Branch. Although some are senior
officials in various spheres of local communist activity none is
thought to be in possession of such important knowledge or holding
positions of such note that the 0.P.G. would be willing to relax
their present principles concerning deportation in order to obtain
his return to China; indeed, the C.P.G. might well consider that to
do so would only be to highlight to us the importance of the detainee
concerned.
9.
A deep study has also been made of the possibility of
arriving at some formula for the release of detainees which might be
acceptable to the C.P.3. with the implicit understanding that they
return to China. For example:-
(a) release at Tsim Sha Tsui or Lo u railway station on
the understanding that they return to China until the period
of their emergency detention order has expired, when
SECRET