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Government.
He hoped that the releases on 16 October and
6 November would be received by the Chinese Government as
further positive steps in the direction of better relations.
4. Sir Stanley said that since his last interview with Mr. Ma,
the British Government had noted with gratification the release
of Mr. Crouch. This was a welcome gesture. Nevertheless,
there was still serious concem in this country over the
continued detention of Mr. Johnston and four other British
subjects Mrs. Yang, Mrs. Epstein, Mr. Shapiro and Mr. Crook.
The British Government strongly hoped that the two further
releases in Hong Kong would be followed by the release of
British subjects detained in China.
We had always emphasised
the importance of Mr. Johnston. As Mr. Ma was aware,
Mr. Johnston suffered from illhealth.
He had a kidney complaint
which required medical treatment. Sir Stanley said that his
release would be very welcome to us.
The steps that they had taken were too
5. In reply, Mr. Ma said that the Chinese Government had taken
quite a few positive steps over British law-breakers in China.
and over improving relations. But the British side had not
been so positive.
small. Last time when Sir Stanley Tomlinson had mentioned the
forthcoming release of four prisoners, Mr. Ma had said that
four was too small a figure. Now Sir Stanley was talking
about the release of two more prisoners.
the continued imprisonment of over seventy patriotic compatriots
in Hong Kong, the six releases were too small a step. The
patriotic compatriots in Hong Kong were innocent and had been
unjustly imprisoned by the Hong Kong British authorities. The
Chinese demanded that the Hong Kong British authorities should
In comparison with
/immediately
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