CYP CAT A
SECRET
PRIORITY HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELNO 839
2 JULY, 1968
607
H
TOP COPY
*SECRET
RECEIVED ARCHIVESNA.
Σ
ADDRESSED TO CO TELNO 839 OF 2ND JULY RFI PEK ING.
598
PEKING TELEGRAM 601 : DETAINEES.
1 Whisp
A COPY OF THE STUDY IS BEING SENT TO YOU AND PEKING BY BAG: IT
MAY BE NECESSARY TO PARAPHRASE PARTS OF THE PEKING COPY FOR SECURITY
REASONS.
2.
PARA 4. THE PROPOSAL IS THAT WE SHOULD TRY TO ''NEUTRALISE
ONLY A VERY SMALL PROPORTION OF THOSE RELEASED. WE SHOULD OF COURSE
ACT EXTREMELY CAREFULLY. THE OBJECT WOULD BE SUBTLY TO THROW DOUBT
UPON THE CONTINUED RELIABILITY OF ONE OR TWO. THERE WOULD BE NO
EFFORT TO ''TURN THEM.
3. MY INTENTION IN MAKING A FEW RELEASES IS IN PART TO DEMONSTRATE
A DEGREE OF FLEXIBILITY TO OUTSIDE OPINION E.G. INTERNATIONAL RED
CROSS. NATURALLY I HOPE ALSO THAT A FEW RELEASES MAY HELP TO
IMPROVE THE GENERAL SINO-BRITISH ATMOSPHERE BUT I AGREE TANGIBLE
RESULTS ARE NOT VERY LIKELY. LOCALLY I DO NOT EXPECT THIS ACTION
TO HAVE ANY BENEFICIAL EFFECT AND HOPE ONLY FOR NO SERIOUS ILL-
EFFECTS.
A.
Į PROPOSE TO RELEASE TWO DETAINEES DURING THE NEXT FEW WEEKS
AND ANOTHER TWO SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. THE EXACT TIMING WOULD BE
DECIDED IN THE LIGHT OF THE CURRENT SITUATION. I SHALL, OF COURSE,
GIVE YOU AND PEKING NOTICE.
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