HWB 13/5
Dreht on HWA 13/5
COMMONWEALTH OFFICE,
CURTIS GREEN, S.W.1.
692
SECRET
18 July, 1968.
We have read with great interest the Special Branch
study (reference GEN/14/368/133) dated 20 June on the release
of detainees and we found it very useful in recent discussions with the Minister of State (Lord Shepherd) on the subject.
I thought you might like to know that we are in agreement
with the recommendations in the paper, that Lord Shepherd
supports the gradual release of detainees and is confident of
his colleagues' support for such measures as you consider it
desirable and feasible to take along the lines proposed.
The Minister is of course aware of the start you have
already made by releasing two detainees on 6 July. Your report on initial communist reactions to the move (your telegram No. 886)
is not discouraging although we realise that it is too early to
make any worthwhile assessment of the ultimate results. We must
await developments and in particular the reaction to the
announcement of the intention to deregister Chung Wah School
and to the subsequent release of two more detainees (your
telegram No. 899 refcrs).
His Excellency
Sir David Trench, K. C.H.G., M.C.,
Hong Kong.
(R. H. MASON)
SECRET
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