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PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
Telegram No. 632
UNCLASSIFIED ·
4 July, 1968
HW
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 632 of
4 July, Repeated for information. to Hong Kong, Washington and POLAD Singapore.
People's Daily and NONA of 3 July carried an article entitled "patriotic compatriots of all circles in Hong Kong sternly censure Hong Kong British crimes".
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Following is summary •
•
Article says that compatriots have been holding meetings over the past few days to censure Hong Kong British authorities' crimes in continuing to persecute compatriots illegally detained in prison and have demanded that the Hong Kong authorities release them all. Released compatriots, heads of families of students detained in Victorie "Detention Camp" and members of families of other detained patriots have been holding Press conferences. They said that since May last year over 5,000 compatriots had been unreasonably arrested and 2000 had been sent to pr: son of which, et the present time, several hunared were still suffering inhuman treatment in jail. "They had even been deprived of the right
to study Chairman Mao's works and read progressive journals and newspapers". There were still 75 young students in jail aged from 14 to 19 years, serving sentences from 1 year to 10 years.
Article says compatriots asked the Hong Kong authorities what crime they had committed by cherishing love for Mao and studying and propagating his thought.
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Article ends by alleging that in the past ten days representatives of compatriots had been to Editorial Secret- ariat, the police force and other departments to demand that British authorities "stop persecuting" compatriots in jail and release them all.
Sir D. Hopson
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION C.O. H.K.D.
F.0. F.E.D.
F.0. S.E.A.D.
Defence Dept P.U.S.. Guidance Dept I.R.D.
U.N.D.
News Dept
C.O. F.E:P.D.
News Dept DIS.M.O.D.
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