CONFIDENTIAL
remaining detainees ond dismantling most of the remaining
emergency measures in the very near future.
The GovernROT
said that the problem of detainees was kept under weekly
review in Hong Kong. He argued that the Hong Kong authorities would have to continue their careful review of cases
individually, having regard to the special security factors
in each. These security factors were complex and could really be judged only in Hong Kong He thought moreover that the
authorities had to pace the releases rather carefully;
the
release of a large batch in the immediate future would be considered in Hong Kong as a sign of weakness and would bo exploited as such by the communiets. He would certainly
continue to let out detainees as fast as he safely could. He thought that with the exception of two or three (and possibly not as many as that) they should all be out by June.
maid
emergency powers of detention would have to remain in force
until the last detainees were released. Mr. Stewart said that there could be no question of pushing the Governor into ection which he judged might jeopardise security in Hong Kong, Parliement had expressed interest in the powers of detention without trial; but he thought that such criticism as there was could be coped with. If criticion became sharper he would review the matter.
6. Mr. Stewart was informed that officials had also discussed
fully with the Governor what was involved in the dismantling of the emergency measures other than the power of detention. The Governor stressed that this was a process which had gone on
/ since
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