CONFIDENTIAL
CONFRONTATION PRISONERS
Brief No 5
BACKGROUND
1. As a result of the rioting in 1967 1,832 men and women were
convicted of offences and imprisoned. On 1 January this year only
23, mainly convicted of violent crimes, were still in prison. The
sentences of all long term prisoners in Hong Kong are reviewed
regularly by the Prison Board of Review which makes recommendations
to the Governor. The prisoners' state of health and conduct are
all taken into account together with any other relevant factors.
During 1971 a total of 45 confrontation prisoners were released
with reduced sentences on the recommendation of the Prison Board of
Review. On 9 December 1972 the Board of Review recommended reductions
of sentences for 6 further prisoners. They will be released at a
rate of roughly one a month between January and mid-July. The
press was informed on 18 January of the first 3 releases.
Chinese Government has also been informed. A further announcement
will be made at a later date about the remaining 3.
2.
The
By the end of July, 17 confrontation prisoners will remain.
The Governor's aim is to work for a solution of this problem in
the course of 1972 based on:
a. a series of releases (no grand gesture);
٣
b.
an offer to the Chinese to deport the hand core
whose sentences cannot be reduced.
3.
The Chinese have not made a major issue of this question for
some time but lose few opportunities to mention it. For instance,
Mr Tam Dalyell MP gave the Chinese an undertaking to "look into" the
question after his visit to China in November. Four British subjects
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CONFIDENTIAL
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