}
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2
4. THE DESPATCH LAYS ITS MAIN EMPHASIS ON THE NEED FOR FURTHER
POSITIVE CONCESSIONS IN THE FORM OF THE RELEASE OF DETAINEES AND
AS AMNESTY FOR CONVICTED PRISONERS. AS REGARDS DETAINEES I SHALL
CONTINUE THE PRESENT POLICY OF RELEASING THEM AS AND WHEN I AM
ABLE TO SATISFY MYSELF THAT THE SECURITY RISK OF DOING SO IS
ACCEPTABLE, THIS MUST BE OVER-RIDING AND IT NEEDS TO BE APPRECIATED
THAT, WHILE AT PRESENT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF LESSER RISKS WHOM VE
CAN AFFORD TO RELEASE, AS THESE GO WE GET DOWN TO THE HARD CORE.
THESE IT MAY BE PREFERABLE TO RETAIN IN CUSTODY FOR SOME TIME YET
RATHER THAN TO RISK RELEASING THEM AND THEN HAVING TO RE-ARREST
THEN.
5. AS REGARDS THE CONVICTED PR190NERS CAPART FROM THE TWO NONA
PRISONERS FOR WHOM SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS ARE UNDER CONSIDERATION)
IT SHOULD BE REMEMBERED THAT VIRTUALLY ALL THE LESSER CONFRONTATION
OFFENDERS WILL BE FREED WITH FULL REMISSION BY THE END OF THIS
YEAR, THOSE FOR WHOM HOPSON RECOMMENDS AN AMNESTY ARE IM PRACTICE
THOSE CONVICTED FOR SERIOUS VIOLENCE OR OTHER SERIOUS CRIMES AND
SENTENCED TO MORE THAN TWO YEARS. ALTHOUGH THEIR CRIMES WERE COMMITTE
AS PART OF A POLITICALLY INSPIRED COMMUNIST CAMPAIGN, THEY WERE
NOT POLITICAL OFFENCES AND TO MAJE THEM THE SUBJECT OF A POLITICAL
AMNESTY AS A GRATUITOUS ACT ON OUR PART COULD, APART FROM
OTHER OBJECTIONS, HAVE A MOST SERIOUS EFFECT IN HONG KONG.
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION:
CO: HONG KONG DEPT
F.E. & P.D.
P.A.D.
I.R.D.
FO: F.E.D.
P.U.S.D.
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&&&&&&
!