CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
RECO
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
12 MAD
TELNO 599
OFSK
OF 26113OZ FEBRUARY 91X
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ugh is
TUP COPY Q DIST ?
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
18
102652
MDHIAN 5420
Enter
27/2
HK RESIDENTS DETAINED IN CHINA
1. WE HAVE LEARNT FROM REUTERS THAT THE THREE REMAINING HONG KONG
RESIDENTS DETAINED IN GUANGDONG FOR OFFENCES RELATING TO JUNE 1989, WERE TODAY TRIED IN CANTON. THE CHARGE WAS IN EACH CASE THAT OF CONCEALING A COUNTER-REVOLUTIONARY.
2. ALL THREE DEFENDANTS
QUOTE ADMITTED THEIR GUILT UNQUOTE AND CO-OPERATED.
IS
SUPPOSED TO HAVE PASSED CHEN ZIMING'S NAME TO HONG KONG. THE TWO LIS TOOK MONEY WITH WHICH TO ORGANISE CHEN'S ESCAPE UP TO
GUANGDONG.
3.
AT
AND LI LONGQING HAD THEIR OWN LAWYERS (ALTHOUGH
LEAST WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE TRIAL DATE UNTIL THE NIGHT BEFORE THE TRIAL.) PEICHENG HAD A GOVERNMENT APPOINTED LAWYER. FAMILY WERE ALLOWED TO ATTEND THE TRIAL, BUT ONLY AFTER CONSIDERABLE PRESSURE FROM THE LAWYER. THE TRIAL FOR ALL THREE LASTED JUST TWO AND A HALF HOURS. SENTENCING IS EXPECTED WITHIN A FEW DAYS. WE UNDERSTAND THAT IN NORMAL CASES THE MAXIMUM WOULD BE
THREE YEARS BUT IN QUOTE SERIOUS UNQUOTE CASES THIS CAN BE EXTENDED TO TEN YEARS.
COMMENT
4. THIS INFORMATION IS LIKELY TO BE ACCURATE (JANE MCCARTNEY OF
REUTERS IS A FRIEND OF
FAMILY AND HAS BEEN IN REGULAR TOUCH WITH US). WE HAVE APPROACHED NCNA ASKING FOR DETAILS AND
EXPRESSING CONCERN THAT THE LAWYER AND FAMILY HAVE NOT BEEN KEPT INFORMED. WE WILL ALSO PASS ON
FAMILY'S REQUEST FOR ACCESS
TO HIM. MS MCCARTNEY IS WRITING A STORY ON THIS, YOU MAY THEREFORE BE QUESTIONED BY THE PRESS.
WILSON
YYYY
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CONFIDENTIAL