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CYPHER/CAT A
IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 69
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
23 JANUARY 1969
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YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 59 : PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION.
AS INDICATED IN MY TELEGRAM 2175, MOST DETAINEES WERE ORIGINALLY
ARRESTED UNDER THE DEPORTATION OF ALIENS ORDINANCE, AND IT
HAS NEVER BEEN CUSTOMARY TO REVEAL NAMES OF PERSONS ARRESTED
UNDER THAT ORDINANCE, HOWEVER, WE CERTAINLY DO NOT WISH TO
REFER TO DEPORTATION PROCEDURES IN THIS CONTEXT SINCE THIS
WOULD TEND TO HIGHLIGHT OUR INABILITY TO ENFORCE DEPORTATION
TO CHINA,
2. FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION, THE SECURITY ADVANTAGE GAINED
IN 1967 FROM NON-PUBLICATION WAS THAT THE AIR OF UNCERTAINTY
SO CAUSED IN THE COMMUNIST RANKS THREW THEM OFF-BALANCE AND
LED MANY OF THEIR LEADERS TO GO UNDERGROUND.
3. THE FAMILIES OF THOSE DETAINED WERE NOTIFIED AND IT SEEMED
TO US THAT THERE WERE IN ANY CASE NO CONVINCING REASONS FOR
PUBLISHING LISTS OF PERSONS DETAINED, PARTICULARLY AS THERE
WAS NO PARTICULAR PUBLIC PRESSURE FOR THIS. THE PUBLIC
GENERALLY SUPPORTED DETENTION BUT SHOWED NO INTEREST IN
DETAILS.
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