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6
be by Mr. Cradock, as a major instrument for "de-escalation"
On the other hand it can hardly fail to improve the
atmosphere and therefore should be pursued in so far as
security permits.
8.
Whatever our own assessment of the position we must in .
the last resort be very hesitant about asking the Governor
to go against his bettor judgement on matters concerning the
administration and security of the Colony. Confidence in
his judgement has been fortified by the fact that the policy
of patience coupled with firmness paid off last year. Seen
from Peking only there is much justification in what
Mr. Cradock says, though he is less than fair to the Hong
Kong Government in implying, for example, that they had not
made conscientious efforts to examine the individual cases
of detainees who might be released. There is clearly
nothing to be gained at this stage by pursuing the present
debate. We have accepted the Governor's view that no further
releases should be made before the turn of the month, and have
said that we wish to have a full discussion with him when he
returns to London. There will then be an opportunity to
examine more closely the various points made by Mr. Cradock,
Flag H(860)(In Hong Kong telegram No. 2051, which has just arrived, the
į
Governor reports that the detention order of only one of the
40 detainees formally expies before December; the need to
issue fresh detention orders is therefore not an immediate
problem and if all goes well it may not arise at 'all.)
/9. In the
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