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FOREIGN AND COMMO.ALTH OFF RECEIVELIN
EN CLAIR
PRIORITY
PEKING
TO
25 NOVEMBER 1968
TELNO 1049
UNCLASSIFIED
ARCHIVES No.31
25 NOV 1968
нккир
ADDRESSED TO FCO TELEGRAM NO. 1049 OF 25 NOVEMBER, REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO WASHINGTON, HONG KONG AND POLAD SINGAPORE.
NCNA OF 24 NOVEMBER CARRIES A REPORT DATELINED HONG KONG
23 NOVEMBER ON PRISON VISITS. MAIN POINTS FOLLOW.
2.
ON NOVEMBER 18 AND 19 LEADING MEMBERS OF NCNA AND SIX PATRIOTIC NEWSPAPERS WENT IN GROUPS TO SEE LO YU-HO AND 12 OTHER PATRIOTIC JOURNALISTS ILLEGALLY JAILED BY HONG KONG BRITISH AUTHORITIES. DESPITE PERSECUTION AND MALTREATMENT, THE JOURNALISTS IN JAIL WERE ALL IN HIGH SPIRITS WITH A STRONG WILL TO FIGHT ON AND CONFIDENT THAT THEY WOULD WIN FINAL VICTORY.
3.
THE IMPRISONED JOURNALISTS STERNLY DENOUNCED THE HONG KONG BRITISH AUTHORITIES FOR CONTINUING VICIOUS PERSECUTION AND MAL- TREATMENT. THEY WERE INNOCENT AND IT WAS UTTERLY ILLEGAL FOR THE HONG KONG BRITISH AUTHORITIES TO DETAIN THEM AND OTHER PATRIOTIC CHINESE IN CONCENTRATION CAMPS AND PRISONS, THE AUTHORITIES MUST SET THEM FREE AT ONCE.
4. THEY WERE INSPIRED BY SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE OF THEIR MOTHER- LAND AND OF COMPATRIOTS IN HONG KONG. THEY WERE DETERMINED TO PERSIST IN THEIR FIGHT TO ACHIEVE FINAL VICTORY IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST BRITISH VIOLENCE.
5.
THESE PRISONERS WERE BRUTALLY KIDNAPPED AFTER MAY LAST YEAR WHEN ENGAGED IN NORMAL REPORTING ACTIVITIES OR EVEN RELAXING IN THEIR HOMES. LATER THEY WERE SENTENCED. THE APPALLING CRIMES OF PERSECUTING PATRIOTIC JOURNALISTS AND TRAMPLING ON THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS HAVE AROUSED THE INDIGNATION OF FAIR MINDED JOURNALISTS ALL OVER THE WORLD. THEY HAVE ISSUED STATEMENTS AND SENT TELEGRAMS CONDEMNING ATROCITIES OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND HONG KONG BRITISH AUTHORITIES, AND EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR JUST STRUGGLE OF PATRIOTIC JOURNALISTS IN HONG KONG.
MR. CRADOCK
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
FAR EASTERN DEPT.
HONG KONG DEPT.
NEWS DEPT.
INFORMATION POLICY DEPT. INFORMATION RESEARCH DEPT.
BA.
Аю
26/1.
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