CYPHER/CAT A
SECRET
10
IMMEDIATE
HỒNG KÔNG
EGRAM NUMBER 2269
SECRET.
FOLLOWING RECEIVED FROM HONG KONG.
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH
FOREIGN
CFFICE
16 DECEMBER 1968
HK
Pia ak 18/12
ADDRESSED TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TELEGRAM NUMBER 2969 OF 16 DECEMBER REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO POLAD SINGAPORE, WASHINGTON AND CANBERRA AND SAVING TO PEKING.
FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE AND CABINET OFFICE FOR J.1.C. FOLLOWING FROM L.1.C. ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION AS AT 06.00 HOURS
16TH DECEMBER 1968 FOLLOWS.
THE PRINCIPAL FEATURES OF THE PERIOD HAVE PEEN:-
(A) SINCE 11TH DECEMBER AN INTENSIFIED COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN, SUPPORTED BY RALLIES AND FUNCTIONS, DEMANDING THE RELEASE OF ALL CONFRONTATION PRISONERS AND DETAINEES AND CRITICISING PRISON
CONDITIONS. THIS MOVE, BELIEVED TO BE ON INSTRUCTIONS FROM CHINA,
IS REPORTED TO BE DESIGNED TO COUNTER THE RECENT PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN
IN THE WESTERN WORLD OVER GREY'S DETENTION IN PEKING. IT HAS BEEN
EMPHASISED TO LOCAL COMMUNISTS, HOWEVER, THAT THE RELEASE OF
PRISONERS AND DETAINEES IN HONG KONG MUST NOT BE LINKED WITH GREY'S
RELEASE.
(D) THE RELEASE OF THIRTEEN EMERGENCY DETAINEES, INCLUDING TWO
STANDING COMMITTEE MEMBERS OF THE ALL CIRCLES ANTI-PERSECUTION
STRUGGLE COMMITTEE (TELEGRAMS 2215, 2236 AND 2257). ONE DETAINEE, WHO WAS RELEASED IN A GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL (TELEGRAM 2253) AND
ACCEPTED FURTHER TREATMENT THERE, DISCHARGED HIMSELF TWO DAYS LATER ON INSTRUCTIONS OF LOCAL COMMUNIST HIERARCHY AND IS NOW IN A
PRIVATE HOSPITAL. SIXTEEN DETAINEES ARE STILL HELD. SEVERAL LARGE
SCALE WELCOMING FUNCTIONS HAVE BEEN HELD FOR DETAINEES. COMMUNISTS,
RELEASED AFTER COMPLETING PRISON SENTENCES, HAVE BEEN GREETED WITH
SHORT-LIVED STREET DEMONSTRATIONS.
(C) PRO-COMMUNIST BYSTANDERS HAVE, ON FOUR OCCASIONS, HARRASSED
POLICE WHO WERE TAKING ACTION AGAINST MINOR OFFENDERS AND SEVERAL
HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED.
(0) THE
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A. HIVES NO.51 12 1968
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