*
6. The Governor comes in his third paragraph to his
main purpose, to make it clear that he feels that there is
nothing more of substance that he can do in Hong Kong. He
is clearly unwilling to advance the dates of release of the
oleven newsworkers linked with Grey, whether under a cover
story or (although he does not mention this) as a deliberate
political gesture. The cases of the remaining long term
confrontation prisoners are in the hands of the Board of
Review and the Governor says he can do nothing more to speed
up their release should this be asked of him. With the
release of detainees and the shelving of the emergency
regulations we have, the Governor says, come to the end of
the positive steps we can take. This assumes that the
expulsion of confrontation prisoners to China - which the
Governor has always regarded as an acceptable solution -
remains unacceptable to the Chinese; which assumption is
almost certainly correct. The Governor also reminds us of
the likely dangers to public confidence in Hong Kong of any
further concessions on our side.
7.
I have the following comments on various points made
by the Governor.
(a)
Release of the Newsworkers
In a separate submission I have come to the conclusion
that we should not re-open with the Governor the
question of the premature release of the newsworkers.
SECRET