f
Defensive Notes
You must relcase Arrediately all the patriotic compatriots
imprisoned in Houy Mann.
The prisoners convicted in 1967 were all tried in open
court according to the due process of law, and were given an
opportunity to defend themselves. All are eligible for full zomission. The Hong Kong Government aro about to make an
important gesture to improve rolations in the case of the four prisoners and it is now up to the Chinese Government to
match our efforts by the release of British subjects detained
in China, particularly i
and
The Chinese Government havo nade a major concession by the
premature release of
We have noted the release of
This is certainly
a step in the right direction.
We hope that it will be followed
by the early release of comer British subjects. The rolease
of
and
would be a suitable and welcome
gesture. At the same time I should point out that
was released only a short time before the completion of his full sentence, less the time he spent in detention before
sentence. If he had been given remission of one third of his
sentence, on the same basis as the prisoners in Hong Kong, he
would have been released several months earlier.
How many other cases aze under consideration?
At present I can only tell Mr. Ka that other cases are
under consideration.
If it is decided that they are eligible
for release, they will be released.
Far Eastern Department,
14 October, 1970.
CONFIDENTIAL
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