"CONFIDEN
subjects detained in China. As far as the prisoners in Hong Kong
were concerned, our understanding was that all of the prisoners
mentioned had received remission of sentence. He undertook to
clarify the matter. Mr. Ma might like to know that by 31 July
there would only be 89 prisoners in Hong Kong whom Mr. Ma described
€9
as "patriotic compatriots". He would like Mr. Ma to see that the
releases were going forward.
8. Mr. Morgan went on to say that during their interview on
2 July he had mentioned to Mr. Ma the cases of the other six British
subjects detained in China. When Mr. Royle subsequently spoke to
Mr. Ma at the Mongolian reception, he described Parliamentary
interest in the cases of
and
in particular.
Mr. Morgan asked whether, when he reported his present conversation
to Mr. Royle, he would be able to tell him anything new about those
two cases.
9. Mr. Ma said that according to his information, what Mr. Morgan
had said about the early releases of over 20 patriotic compatriots
was not accurate. None of these had been released before the end
of their sentence. Mr. Ma said that as far as other British law-
breakers in China were concerned, the Chinese authorities were
dealing with their cases in accordance with Chinese law and on the
merits of their individual cases.
10. Mr. Morgan said that provided Mr. Ma had no objection he would
tell News Department in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office that Mr. Ma had informed the British Government of the impending release
of
and that Mr. Morgan had taken the opportunity to enquire
about the other six detainees.
CONFIDENTIAL
3
/11.