Ann C
CONFIDENTIAL
persons have been so detained, thirty eight having been released. Particulars of those still in detention are attached.
8. The Acting Governor has recently reported as follows :
"Those remaining in detention are all dedicated militant communists, none of whom can in practice be considered less dangerous than any other, although, of course, they are of varying importance in their own organisations. They range from Vice-Chairman of the All Circles Anti-Persecution Struggle Committee, through office bearers of trade unions and senior communist education officials who incited violence, to individual members of fighting groups who were actively involved in organising acts of murder and other forms of violence. With the exception, perhaps, of the individual members of fighting groups all those in detention wield considerable influence in their respective spheres of communist activity.
"The case of each individual detainee is carefully reviewed weekly. The yardstick, in terms of threat to security posed by individual releases, needs to be measured in terms of the current activity of the relevant parent organisation, the particular role of the individual and the likelihood of his attempting to resuscitate open violence. Regard has to be paid to the possible degree to which those concerned will comply with the communist policy of at present conducting a "political struggle' as opposed to a violent one. These factors vary in respect not only of the detainee himself but also of his organisation and the situation at any given time.
While, therefore, it would be possible to give a list of priorities as
of today in terms of approximate order of release, it would not necessarily remain valid on an indefinite basis.'
11
Arguments for and against Revoking Confrontation Emergency Legislation
9. Chinese Intentions
For:
There are reliable indications that an influential element in the C.P.G. want to de-escalate the Hong Kong situation and that instructions have been issued to local communists to avoid violence and any form of direct challenge to the authority of the Hong Kong Government.
Against: The Cultural Revolution is still in progress. We cannot
be sure that this less extreme element in the C.P.G. will retain its influence or that its directions will be obeyed by the rank and file communists in Hong Kong who, while they may have eschewed violence in recent months, have been exhorted to intensify the struggle in a non-violent form. In local circumstances a renewed direct communist challenge to authority could quickly recur, as a result of even the most trifling incident.
10. The Effect in Hong Kong
For:
Hong Kong public opinion would appreciate and understand moves towards a detente in present circumstances (in the same way as they reacted to the settlement of the border incidents at the end of last year). They might regard the necessary gestures
(including the
CONFIDENT IAL
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