Mr Anthony Royle
It is normal for the sentences of all long-term prisonere
in Hong Kong to be reviewed regularly by the Prison Board
of Review which
The Prisoner's state of health and conduct in prison and the
circumstances of his offence are all taken into account during
thes review ofcités verbones together with any other relevant
factors. At a recent meeting, for example, the Board
recommended that the varying sentences passed on a number of
prisoners for comparable offences should be brought into line.
As a result some 24 prisoners are being released on 25 February
in accordance with the Governor's instructions.
1
i
Mr Wilford
Mr Logan
Parliamentary Office
CONFIDENTIAL
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION: PRISONERS IN HONG KONG
Mr Blaker is being asked to put down an inspired Parliamentary
Question about the review of sentences of long-term prisoners
in Hong Kong for written rely on 25 February. The proposed
question and reply are submitted.
has agreed.
The Governor, Hong Kong
23 February 1971
Copies to:
Sir 3 Tomlinson
Six L Monson
Mr Laird (Hong Kong Department)
News Department (Mr Pendleton)
12.1. horson.
RB Crowson
Far Eastern Department
MA 50 K 258
This is as
kt.
agreed.
Kunhilford
As the question is
we have icluded
247
witte
1-the supp185
the text if the answe
CON PT DIRETAT,
--|
CONFIDI: TIAL
FEN 14/1
FA PERIA 2403352
CONFLUENTIAL
TO MEDIATE FCO TEL NO 155 CF 24 FEBRUANY INFO PRIORIT
MY TELKO 140.
18 FEC
TOP COPY
Ma
AFTER I HAD TOLD T'AM THIS MORTING ABOUT THE RELEASES OF
PRISAMIS IN HONG KU GIY 1.P.T.) HE WAS CALLED FROM THE
ROON. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE CONVERSATION AFTER HIS
RETURN! HE SAID THAT HE HAD BEEN ASKED BY VICE-MIN.STER CHIAO
KUAN-HUA TO THANK ME FOR MY INVITATION TO THE RECEPTION THIS
EVERING. UNFORTUNATELY HE WAS BUSY BUT OTHER QUOTE CHINESE
FRIENDS UPQUOTE LOULD ATTEND, THIS IS A MUST RENARKABLE
VOLTE FACE AND SHOWS YET AGAIN THE EXTENT TO WHICH POLITICS
ANE I CORMAND.
DENSON
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24 FEBRUARY 1971
TOP COPY
48
L
L
CONFIDENTIAL
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 154 OF 24 FEBRUARY INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG.
Ju CONFRONTATION PRISONERS.
I SAY T'ANG THIS MORNING AND SPOKE AS IN MY TELNO 135, TAKING INTO
ACCOUNT HONG KONG TELNO 114.
39
2. T'ANG WELCOMED THIS NEW EFFORT BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO
IMPROVE RELATIONS, BUT POINTED OUT THAT THERE WERE STILL QUOTE AROUND 50
UNQUOTE QUOTE PATRIOTIC COMPATRIOTS UNQUOTE IN JAIL IN HONG KONG. HE
URGED THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE
SWIFT STEPS TO RELEASE THEM ALL.
те
3. 1 REPLIED THAT THERE WOULD, OF COURSE, BE NORMAL RELEASES.
THE BOARD OF REVIEW WOULD ALSO CONTINUE TO MEET, AS WAS NORMAL. THE
BRITISH GOVERNMENT WERE ANXIOUS TO REMOVE ALL IMPEDIMENTS TO
IMPROVING ANGLO-CHINESE RELATIONS, BUT THERE WERE PROBLEMS AND THEY
SHOULD BE TACKLED STEB BY STEP. WE REGARDED THIS STEP AS A SIGNIFICANT
ONE. I EMPHASISED THAT THIS WAS NOT A SIMPLE MATTER.
THERE WAS A PROPER PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED IN HONG KONG, AND IT WOULD
BE FOLLOWED. HE OBSERVED THAT THERE HAD BEEN IMPROVEMENTS
IN RELATIONS RECENTLY: AN AVIATION DELEGATION FROM BRITAIN
WAS DUE HERE SHORTLY. IMPEDIMENTS IN THE POLITICAL FIELD COULD HAVE
AN ADVERSE AFFECT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF RELATIONS IN OTHER FIELDS.
4. THE INTERVIEW WAS VERY RELAXED,
DENSON
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CONFIDENTIAL
enterafer 262/
47
Mr Morgan
Mi
M
Fr Wilford
Mr Logan
Mr. Cuzzton
Aftlayard. SM
251
2.K
F.E.D.
25/V
Many thanks.
D. logu 25/2
A
FEX all well
CALL ON MR ROYLE BY CHINESE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES AT 11 AM ON 24 FEBRUARY
1971
1. Mr Royle has summoned the Chinese Chargé d'Affaires, Mr P'ei, to call
at 11 am tomorrow so that Mr Royle can inform him of the impending
release on 25 February of 24 confrontation prisoners. Hong Kong telegram
No 108 reporting the releases is attached. Mr Royle may also wish to
refer to the cases of the ↳ British subjects still believed to be
detained in China.
2. When Mr Royle last saw Mr P'ei on 15 January Mr Royle formally
proposed an exchange of Ambassadors. Mr P'ei undertook to report back.
Kr Royle may wish to ask Mr P'ei whether he can now let us have a reply.
3.
Speaking Notes and background papers are submitted. Hong Kong Department
concur.
4. Mr Morgan, who, will be back in the Office by then, would be glad to
#epresent at the meeting if Mr Royle so wishes.
23 February 1971
Copy to:
Sir S Tomlinson
Sir L Monson
Mr Laird (Hong Kong Department)
1.6. horror.
RB Crowaon
Far Eastern Department
Reduften afte desinition with M. Wiffed Saltlagen
24~
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
CALL ON MR ROYLE BY CHINESE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES, MR P'EI,
AT 11 AM ON 24 FEBRUARY 1971
SPEAKING NOTES
RELEASE OF CONFRONTATION PRISONERS
1.
I have asked you to come today to pass on an important
piece of information to you.
2. As a result of a further
e Hong Kong Government have decided to release
24 prisonera serving sentences of offences committed in
1967 and 1968. The releases will take place tomorrow,
25 February. In addition, one more prisoner will be
released in May.
3. I should emphasise that all those 25 to be released are
in addition to the steady rate of releases with full remission,
which has been taking place for the past three years.
4. This action by the Hong Kong Government is welcome to the
British Government. It stems from th
of the Hong Kong Government in dealing with prisoners.
5. This action by the Hong Kong Government will help to
remove one of the
Sino-British relations.
ht of
lucit to tranker fidely to
wisit Pelecy.
CONFIDENTIAL
-
-1-
CONFIDENTIAL
To
B
amerige couse of conversation
छ My colleagues and I have stated many times in Parliament and elsewhere
that we welcome the improvement which has taken place in our relations
over the past year. It has required efforts by both sides. We have noted
the invitation issued to the Hawker Siddely delegation to go to Peking
early next month for discussions. We hope that the visit will lead to
positive results. When Mr Denson saw the new Minister of Foreign Trade
on 5 February he outlined a whole series of
These practical measures to imerove our commercial relations. included
an invitation to a Chinese Minister or Vice-Minister to lead a trade
delegation to this country. It is our firm hope that the Chinese
Government will accept this invitation, and we look forward to receiving
the delegation.
7. Finally, I should like to ask you whether you are yet in a position
to let us have some information about the four Eritish subjects still
believed to be detained in China. are Mrs Epstein, Mrs Yang, Mr Shapiro
and Mr Crook.
EXCHANGE OF AMBASSADORS
We
These
You
8. When I saw you on 15 January I proposed formally that our two
countries should now proceed to exchange Ambassadors. undertook to pass
on this proposal to your Government. agreed that discussion of this
matter should take place in London. I should be grateful to know whether
you can now let us have a reply on behalf of your Government.
DEFENSIVE SPEAKING NOTES
HONG KONG PRISONERS
9.
All the prisoners in Hong Kong serving sentences for
in accordance offences committed in 1967 were tried in opta with the due
process of law. They were given an opportunity to defend themselves in
Court and are all eligible for normal remission of their sentences.
Apart from one minor exception all the prisoners so far released have
been granted remission of one-third of their sentence. All long-term
prisoners have their sentences reviewed at regular intervals.
-
- 2 -
CONFIDENTIAL
.
CONFIDENTIAL
CHINESE OBJECTIONS TO AN EXCHANGE OF AMBASSADORS
If Mr P'ei rejects an exchange of Ambassadors on the grounds of our vote
on Chinese representation in the United Nations, the presence of our
Consulate in Taiwan and our position on the
status of Taiwan
10. As you know, we have always advocated an unconditional exchange of
Ambassadors between our two countries, ever since we first recognised
the People's Republic of China. Moreover we have always voted for the
Resolution calling for the occupation by the Chinese People's Republic
of the China seat in the United Nations since the Resolution was first
tabled. We shall study carefully your Government's reply.
11. We intend informing News Department of Mr P'ei's call in
the terms of the attached announcement.
- 3 -
CONFIDENTIAL
+
CONFIDENTIAL
NOTE FOR NEWS DEPARTMENT
The Chinese Chorgé d'Affaires Mr P'ei called on Hr Royle at
11.00 am on 24 Febru^ry. The c-ll was at Mr Royle's request to
carry forward the discussion which took place when Mr P'el
made his courtesy call on Mr Royle on 15 January.
The content
of the discussion is confidential.
(If asked was the subject Laos discussed News Department will
say unattributably that it was not.]
Far Eastern Department
24 February 1971
CONFIDERIAL
INLEDIATE
A CLAIR
| CONFIDENTIAL)
TOP COPY
FM HONG KONG 230300Z
UNCLASSIFIED
TO IMMEDIATE F.C.O. TELEGRAM NO. 118 OF 23 FEBRUARY INFO PEKING.
зь
YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 163. [CONFRONTATION PRISONERS]
NO COMMENTS.
TRENCH
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IN
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FM PEKING 230200Z
UNCLASSIFIED
FEH
TO ROUTINE FCO TELNO 148 OF 23 FEBRUARY 1971.
YOUR TELNO 86.
FOR WILFORD.
CALL POSTPONED.
DENSON
FILE S
FED
HONG KONG DEPT
SIR L MONSON HR "ILFORD SIR S TOMLINSON
ph
pik
[
5
PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL
KCH1 14/1
J B Denson Beq OBE PEKING
23
Eure
Deps (44:
23 February 1971
23/2
سلام
M
1.
I apologise again for the confusion about the instructions to you for
your talk with T'ang about the confrontation prisoners being released on
25 February, and despatched late on Friday afternoon before the receipt
of your
Our telegram No. 155 was drafted telegram No. 135. This did not arrive
until the Saturday and was dealt with by a duty officer. Unfortunately
he does not seen to have been aware of the telegram which we sent off
the previous day or I think he would have consulted me before agreeing
that you should make your approach to the Chinese on a different date.
Your choice of 23 February was natural enough given that the Governor
had said that he did not object to the Chinese being told 48 hours in
advance, On the other hand we had decided here that 24 hours warning was
quite adequate and that was why our telegram No. 155 authorised you to
speak on the same day as Mr. Royle would be seeing the Chargé here, Only
on Monday morning did I see your telegram and our talegran No. 84 and
that was why I had to ask you in a Flash telegram to try and delay your
approach till 24 February I hope this was not too incomvenient and I am
grateful to you for having done 80.
1340
2. As regards the Governor's telegram No. 116 complaining about what you
were proposing to say, I hope you will agree that our reply was
adequately firm!
4
·
KK Wilford
PERSONA & CONFIDENTIAL
ok
(18281) D4. 391999- 1,500 2/69 Rw.
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry No.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret.
Secret.
Confidential.
Restricted. Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
..In Confidence
DRAFT
Personal a CCNFIDENTIAL
To:-
JB Denson Esq OBE PEKING
Type 1 +
From
Mr Wilforg
Telephone No. & Ext.
Department
-
I apologise again for the confusion about the
instructions to you for your talk with T'ang about
the confrontation prisoners/being released on
25 February. Our telegram No, 155 was drafted and
despatched late on Friday afternoon before the receipt
of your telegram No.5. This did not arrive until
the Saturday and was dealt with by a duty officer.
Unfortunately he does not seem to have been aware of
the telegram which we sent off the previous day or I
Heat
think he would have consulted me before agreeing to a should make Your
abbrone to the Chung the Bad different date for you to speak in Peking.
Your
choice of 23 February was natural enough given that
hand
the Governor had said that he did not object to the
Chinese being told 48 hours in advance. On the other
hand He had decided here that 24 hours warning was
quite adequate and that was why our telegram No. 155
gáthorised you to speak on the same day as Er. Royle
would be seeing the Chargé here, Only on Monday
morning did I see your telegram and our telegram No. 84
and that was why I had to ask you in a Flash telegram
to try and delay your approach till 24 February. I
hope this was not too inconvenient and I am grateful
to you for having done so.
telegram No. 16 complaining
2. As regards the Governor's telegram No.
about what you were proposing to say, I hope you will
agree that our reply was adequately firm!
CONFIDENTIAL
nur 23/2
CYPHER CAT/A
A HONG KONG 238439Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
EH 14
TO ROUTINE F.C.C. TELEGRAM NO. 119 OF 23 FEBRUARY
YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 165: CONFRONTATION PRISONERS.
THANK YOU FOR THIS MESSAGE. I HAVE TAKEN THE LIBERTY OF SHEWING IT TO
ROBERTS, THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL, WHO HAS THROUGHOUT BEEN OF THE GREATEST
ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER,
TRENCH
FILES
DND
FED
PS
PS 20 MR ROYLE
SIR L NOHSCH SIR 3 MILLJON Ik VELFORD
CONFIDENTIAL
Pla
PRIORITY
CYPHER/CAT A
RESTRICTED
(HK) En 14
14/
FM F.C.0. 221720Z
RESTRICTED.
TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 165 OF 22 FEBRUARY.
FOLLOWING PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR CONFRONTATION PRISONERS.
BEGINS.
''THANK YOU FOR YOUR ACCOUNT OF THE BOARD'S MEETING ON 18 FEBRUARY. YOU
HAVE HANDLED THE MATTER OF THE PRISONERS WITH SKILL AND DISCRETION AND I
AM MOST GRATEFUL TO YOU."
ENDS.
DOUGLAS-HOME
FILES:
HKD
FED
PS
PS TO MR. ROYLE
SIR L. MONSON MR. WILFORD
SIR S. TOMLINSON
&&&&
RESTRICTED
Pl
H
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry No. DEPARTMENT NX)
WK
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
PRIORITY MARKINGS
(Date)
Tog-cret
Unclassifed
PRIVACY MARKING
PERSONAL
KXConfidence
Flach cfumadlare
Priority
Despatched
Security classification"
[Security_if any
En Clair
[
Privacy marking -if any
1
رب
Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should
reach addremoo(3).
my
2340
djkheden Hot
ER
RESTRICTED. 22277202
Funda
Cypher
Draft Telegram te? Governor công
No. S
K Kong
(Date) 212
And to:-
[Codeword-if any]
.... -- J
Addressed to
+
GOVERNOR. HONG KONG
No........
165
I
.....(date)
telegram No.
And to
repeated for information to
22 February
uuTibot+=+=+=+
Repeat fo:-
Saving to...
Following is personal mexan for Governor,
Confrontation Prisoners.
Begins:
"Thank you for your account of the Board's
meeting on 18 February. You have handled the
Saving to:-
matter of the prisoners with skill and discretion
and I am most grateful to you."
Ends.
// 20
Distribution:-
Files
H.K Deft
FED
Copies to:
Sir L. Must
24/7/11 The Wilfert
P/S
2218002
P/S & M Royle
де
22 2
Mr. Wilford
345
FEH IL
+
The Secretary of State as the Governor of Hong Kong's telegram No. 108
and would like to send the attached personal message. Do you see any
objection?
Grad.
ངམ་ཚིགན་
(J! A. N. Graham)
22 February, 1971.
No
objection
I hope however that
Copied to:
expect
the Sofs will not
Sir L. Monson
from
MV PX
Mogan SM. Ank
Mr. 17