AS PART OF A BARGAIN, TO RELEASE PRISONERS,
IT IS CUITE SUBSTANTIALLY CUR OWN DOING.
17. I
SEC2R
C2RE T
+
SECRET
7. 1 AGREE ALSO THAT THEY MAY BE EVENTUALLY TEMPTED TO TAKE
FURTHER HOSTAGES, BUT SURELY THEY ARE ALL THE MORE LIKELY
TO DO SO IF THE POLICY PROVES A SUCCESSFUL METHOD OF EXERTING
PRESSURE ON HONG KONG THROUGH HMG.
8. I AM NOT SURE HOW THE REFERENCE TO THE FUTURE OF BRANCHES
OF BRITISH BANKS IN SHANGHAI ARISES, AS I DO NOT IMMEDIATELY
RECALL SEEING ANY SUCH LINKING BY THE CHINESE: BUT IF IT RELATES
TO THEIR EJECTION, THE HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI BANK, UNTIL RECENTLY AT
LEAST (I DO NOT KNOW HOW THE BANK NOW FEELS) WAS ONLY ANXIOUS
TO EFFECT A WITHDRAWAL.
9. CERTAINLY FRIENDLY AND PRACTICAL CONTACTS WITH THE CHINESE ARE
DESIRABLE, PROVIDED THEY ARE COUPLED WITH FIRM REFUSAL AT
AL TIMES TO GIVE WAY UNWILLINGLY TO PRESSURE.
13. AGAIN, I AGREE IT WOULD IN MANY WAYS BE A RELIEF TO BE RID OF THESE
PRISONERS ENTIRELY. NO ONE WOULD BE HAPPIER TO SEE THE LAST OF THEM THAN
1,PROVIDED THIS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED IN
AN ACCEPTABLE MANNER, AND THE SEARCH FOR SUITABLE GROUNDS FOR CLEMENCY
IS ONE IN WHICH I AM PRESENTLY PERSONALLY AND CLOSELY
ENGAGED. THE FIGURES IN YOUR PARAGRAPH 4 DO NOT GIVE A TRUE
FICTURE OF THE VICLENT
MATURE OF THE ACTIONS OF THESE REMAINING PRISONERS, WHO INFLICTED
CONSIDERABLE CASUALTIES ON THE POLICE BUT WERE OFTEN CHARGED WITH
THAT COULD QUICKLY AND EASILY BE PROVED RATHER THAN ON MORE
SERIOUS CHARGES. HOWEVER, THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME PRISONERS
HAVING BEEN GIVEN SENTENCES OF AM EXCESSIVELY EXEMPLARY
CHARACTER IS PRECISELY ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE LOOKING AT NOW,
AS MY PREVIOUS TELEGRAM INDICATED. BUT NOTHING WILL HELP
PRESENTATION HERE IF THE PUBLIQ
3
SECRET
/11. I
+
SECRET
11. I HAVE SOME DIFFICULTIES OF CONSCIENCE, OF COURSE, IN THIS MATTER
AND SOME FEELINGS OF CAUTION OVER MY RELATIONS WITH THE
JUDICIARY SEMICOLON BUT MY GREATEST FEARS ARE FOR THE RESULTS
'GN THE SECURITY OF THE COLONY OF GOING FOR CONSCIOUS AMNESTIES.
WE LIVE ON CONFIDENCE HERE, AND TO IMPAIR GRAVELY, OR DESTROY, LOCAL
CONFIDENCE IN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND INDEED IN HER
MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT'S CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR HONG KONG
SEEMS TO ME MUCH LESS THAN WISE IN THE LONG RUN SEMICOLON · AND
I CAN ONLY ADVISE FIRMLY THAT AT THE PRESENT TIME AMNESTIES
OF THE KIND BEING PROPOSED, IF I UNDERSTAND YOUR MESSAGE ATIGHT, WOULD
HAVE A
IT IS FOR THESE REASONS I BELIEVE WE SHOULD NOT SUDDENLY DEVIATE FROM
OUR PRESENT COURSES, AND GO IN FOR PURELY POLITICALLY MARESTIES; BUT
DEMONSTRATE ONLY THAT WE DO KEEP THE SITUATION OF THESE PRISONERS
ONE YOUNG PRISONER WAS, IN- DEED,RECENTLY RELEASED EARLY IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE BOARD OF REVIEW'S POLICY ON YOUNG PRISONERS; ALTHOUGH I DO NOT
SUCGEST THIS IS OF ANY IM ORTANCE IN THE PRESENT CONTEXT.
FCO PLEASE PASS PRIORITY TO PEKING
1RENCH
FILES
FED
HKD
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED_7
PS TO MR ROYLE PRIVATE SECRETARY SIR S TOMLINSON MR WILFORD
FFFFF
4
SECRET
LAIR
FM HONG KONG 390350Z
THOMASSIFATTO
P
TO}
TO IMMEDIATE F.C.O. TELEGRAM NUMBER 14 OF 9 JANUARY 1971
GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD NOTE THE FOLLOWING CORRECTIONS TO MY TELEGRAM
13. TO YOU; ~
(1) PREAMBLE SHOULD READ PERSONAL FROM GOVERNOR TO SECRETARY
SHOUYO
OF STATE'
(2) MISPLACED PARAGRAPHING POINT. PARAGRAPH 7 SHOULD COMMENCE
›
" TO FOLLOW ANY OTHER ETC.' PRECEDING SENTENCE COMMENCING AS
YOU ARE AWARE ETC. SHOULD BE ULTIMATE SENTENCE OF PARAGRAPH 6.
(3) IN PARAGRAPH 8,
MUST SINCERELY ASK SHOULD READ
** | MOST SINCEREL ASK
SIR D.TRENCH
***REMAS
FED
ILID
SIA 3 2011IY SOF
SIR LOOKIN
1
DARE DOR
Awe
3/2
+
INFESTATE
CYPHER CAT/A
FROM HONG KONG 293382Z
QUORST
SECRET
Patun
Correctin's made according to
HK Tel wit
ADDRESSED F.C.0. IMMEDIATE TELEGRAM NO 13 CF 9 JANUARY 1971
REPEATED IMMEDIATE INFO PEKING.
PERSONAL FROM GOVERNOR do Secretary & state
YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 24.
AVR
HKK' /
とり
BEFORE REPLY MORE DIRECTLY TO THE POINTS IN YOUR TELEGRAM UNDER
FEFERENCE I MUST REPORT RECENT REACTIONS TO AN AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
ITE" WHICH WAS REPRODUCED IN THE PRESS HERE AND WHICH SPECULATED THAT
ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN IN HONG KONG ALMOST PRECISELY ALONG THE
LINES IN YOUR TELEGRAM.
2. ON TUESDAY, 5 JANUARY, IN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, AN UNOFFICIAL
"EMBER RAISED THE SUBJECT OF THE PRESS REPORTS AND SPOKE STRONGLY
TO THE EFFECT THAT THERE SHOULD UNDER NG CIRCUMSTANCES BE ANY
PREMATURE RELEASES OF CONFRONTATION FRISCHERS BECAUSE OF RECENT
CHINESE ATTITUDES, INCLUDING THE RELEASE OF JOHNSTON. HIS VIEW WAS. THAT
JOHNSTON'S RELEASE RESULTED FROM RECENT MOVES BY THE
GOVERNMENT OF SINGAPORE TO RESTOFF THE SITUATION OVER THE BANK
OF CHINA THERE: BUT, IN ANY CASE, IT WAS HIS VIEW THAT ANY ACTION
OF THIS KIND WOULD RESULT IN
ANFIDENCE OVER
THIS GOVERNMENT'S /BILITY TO WITHSTAND PRESSURE. HE SPOKE
VI GOUROUSEY AND WAS SUPPORTED BY ALL OTHER UNOFFICIAL YEMBERS.
N FRIDAY, 8 JANUARY, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS REPORTED IN PIS
WEEKLY ROUND-UP LF PUBLIC OPINION DERIVED FROM SCURCES CTHER THAN THE
NEWSPAPERS THAT THE AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE REFORT HAT *R USED COMMENT FROM
THOSE WHO HAP SEEN IT AND THAT
WHILE JOHNSTON'S RELEASE WAS WELCOMED THEFE WERE STRONGLY
ADVERSE REACTIONS TO THE SUGGESTION OF AMNESTIES.
PRESS EDIT RIALS HAVE EXPRESSED SIMILARLY ADVERSE VIEWS.
A TY' ICAL EXA : LE WHICH MAY BE AVAILABLE TO YOU IS THE
LEADING ARTICLE IN THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST OF TODAY'S DATE
5TH JANUARY, WHICH FOLLOWED UPON AN ANNGUBCOVENT VE HAD TO MAKE,
T. LIETEN PUBLIC GIN1%, REFUTING THE AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
DEPORT AND DE-ASSURING EN VIERES THAT THESE PRISONERS -TULD BE
TREATED NO DIFFERENTLY FROM ANY OTHERS..
pik
15. T. CAN BE
SECRET
5. IT CAN EE SAID WITH CERTAINTY, THEREFORE, THAT ANY WHOLESALE
A TIGN ON THE LINES SUGGESTED WILL GRAVELY OUTRAGE ALL STRATA
OF LOCAL OPINION AND RESULT IN SERVEI
6. THOREOVER, SINCE IT IS INCONCEIVABLE THAT ANY SUCH ACTION WOULD HAVE
THE SLIGHTEST EFFECT ON ESSENTIAL CHINESE ATTITUDES
TOWARDS HONG KONG (EVEN IF SOME BENEFITS IN IMPROVED SINO- BRITISH
RELATIONS ACCRUE TO BRITAIN THEREFRCM) | MUST MOSTE
EARNESTLY ASK THAT WE DO NOT DEPART FROM OUR PRESENT POLICY, AND THAT
WE GO NO FURTHER THAN CUR
FRESENT SEARCH FOR ANY PRISONERS WHO MIGHT BE RELEASED, OR HAVE
THEIR SENTENCES CURTAILED, ON GROUNDS ACCEPTABLE TO PUBLIC OPINION
AND DET GUT OF LINE WITH WHAT WOULD BE NORMAL PRACTICE FOR ANY
CONVICTED PRISONER.
Газ
24 AS YOU ARE AWARE THERE IS A GROUP (OF VERY ROUGHLY ABOUT 2v) WHOSE
SENTENCES MAY HAVE CONTAINED AN EXCESSIVELY EXEMPLARY ELEMENT, AND WHOM
WE ARE NOW LOOKING AT.TO FOLLOW ANY OTHER COURSE WOULD IN MY FIRM
OPINION, HAVE GRAVE LONG TERM
CONSEQUENCES FOR SECURITY HERE: QUITE APART FROM THE HIGH RISK OF
CUTBREAKS OF VICLENCE IN THE PRISONS WHICH MIGHT
VERY 'ELL RESULT. EVEN TO FOLLOW THE COURSE WE ARE FOLLOWING
HAS GRAVE DANGERS UNLESS WE PROCEED WITH CAUTION.
8.
3. IF THESE VIEYS APE NOT ACCEPTABLE TO YOU, I MOST
SIN: ERELY ASK FOR CONSULTATIONS HERE BEFORE WE PROCEED ANY
FURTHER.
(F.C.C. PLS PASS IMMED TO PEKING)
SIR D.TRENCH
FILES:
FED
HKD
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
SIR S TOMLINGON
SIR L MONSON
MR WILFORD
PS TO MR ROYLE
-2-
SECRET
ALMEDIAGN
CONFIDENTIAL
ZA
CYPHER/CAT A
Ale
Ohj
Face 3/58/14
FM FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE 081510Z
(FED)
FER 14/1
CONFIDENTIAL.
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO. 24 OF 8 JANUARY INFO PRIORITY TO PEKING
(PERSONAL FOR DENSON).
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM SECRETARY OF STATE.
I HAVE BEEN GIVING THOUGHT TO OUR RELATIONS WITH CHINA AND THEIR
IMPLICATIONS FOR HONG KONG. THE CHINESE HAVE NOW MADE IT ABUNDANTLY
CLEAR THAT THEY WISH TO
BY
RELEASING METUM THEY HAVE REMOVED THE ONLY SERIOUS OBSTACLE
REMAINING FROM THE STRICTLY BRITISH POINT OF VIEW.
2. THEY NOW SEE US AS HAVING
-
THEY HAVE MADE IT CLEAR WHAT FORM THEY CONSIDER THE RESPONSE SHOULD TAKE
THE RELEASE OF THE REMAINING CONFRONTATION PRISONERS.
3. 1 AND MY PREDECESSORS HAVE ALWAYS RECOGNISED THE NEED TO ENSURE THAT
RELEASES DO NOT LEAD TO A REDUCTION IN CONFIDENCE IN
THE FIRMNESS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG AND ITS ABILITY TO
WITHSTAND CHINESE PRESSURE. ON THE OTHER HAND THE SITUATION IS NOW CALM,
THREE YEARS HAVE PASSED AND THE COMMUNISTS IN HONG KONG ARE AT PRESENT
AVOIDING CLASHES WITH YOUR GOVERNMENT. WE ARE THEREFORE AT THE MOMENT IN
A POSITION OF COMPARATIVE STRENGTH. BUT IF, AFTER THE CHINESE HAVE
PLAYED THEIR BEST REMAINING BARGAINING CARD IN RELEASING MR. JOHNSTON,
WE MAKE NO RESPONSE,
THEY MAY FEEL
THEY
HAVE ALREADY HINTED TO US HERE THAT THEY INTENDED TO DEMONSTRATE
THE
IN HONG KONG, AND I SEE THAT THIS CAMPAIGN HAS NOW STARTED, THE CHINESE
HAVE LINKED THE CONTINUED
DETENTION OF CONFRONTATION PRISONERS WITH BRITISH SUBJECTS
DETAINED IN CHINA, AND MIGHT CONCEIVABLY BE EVENTUALLY TEMPTED TO TAKE
FURTHER HOSTAGES, THEY HAVE RECENTLY ALSO LINKED THEM WITH
THE FUTURE
THERE ARE UNFORTUNATELY MANY WAYS IN WHICH THEY COULD EXTEND THEIR
PRESSURES
AND THEIR OBVIOUS TARGET FOR PRESSURE IS HONG KONG WHICH IS
MUCH MORE VULNERABLE.THAN THE U.K. INDEED IT IS ONLY BY MAINTAINING
FRIENDLY AND PRACTICAL CONTACTS WITH THE CHINESE THAT
THE COLONY CAN MAINTAIN ITS PROSPERITY.
COMENDEIFRMALN
י
CONFIDENTIAL
+
4. I SHOULD THEREFORE BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD TAKE THESE CONSIDERATIONS
INTO ACCOUNT IN YOUR REVIEW OF THE POSITION (YOUR TELNO. 883). I SEE
FROM YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 183 OF 21 MARCH THAT AT THAT TIME Jewe
violence, 87 OF POSSESSION OF OFFENSIVE WEAPONS (EITHER PERSONAL
POSSESSION OR BEING ON PREMISES WHERE SUCH WEAPONS WERE FOUND), AND 23
OF
| IMAGINE THE PROPORTION REMAINS
MUCH THE SAME. IT WOULD CLEARLY BE PREFERABLE FROM THE POINT OF FUTUR
COMPLETELY. I FULLY UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTIES IN ANY REMISSION TO THE
5 ACTUALLY COMMITTED FOR VIOLENCE AND THERE MAY WELL BE OTHERS THAT
WOULD PRESENT DIFFICULTIES TO YOU, I OULD HOPE NEVERTHELESS THAT YOU
WOULD BE ABLE TO RELEASE UNDER
WELL OVER HALF OF THOSE STILL DETAINED. THEREAFTER AND IN THE LIGHT OF
THE REACTIONS WE COULD CONSIDER.A-TIME-MILE FOR THE RELEASE OF THE REST.
IF IT WOULD HELP PUBLIC PRESENTATION IN THE COLONY, YOU MAY LIKE TO
CONSIDER
SERVING SENTENCES FOR OTHER CRIMES NOT CONNECTED WITH THE
DISTURBANCES, ALTHOUGH THIS WOULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN THE
REMISSIONS IN THE CASE OF THE CONFRONTATION SENTENCES BY REFERENCE TO
THEIR ORIGINAL
5. 1 AM VERY MUCH AWARE OF THE DIFFICULTIES OF CONSCIENCE INVOLVED IN
THIS MATTER FOR YOU AND THOSE WHO SERVE ON YOUR BOARD OF REVIEW.
NEVERTHELESS WE HERE AND IN HONG KONG HAVE REACHED A MOST IMPORTANT
STAGE IN OUR RELATIONS WITH CHINA AND IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES I AM ASKING
YOU TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE INTERESTS OF THE LONG-TERM FUTURE OF THE
COLONY WOULD NOT BEST BE SERVED BY MAKING THE MOST OF THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO ESTABLISH MORE
CONTACTS. THE
CHINESE TIMED JOHNSTON'S RELEASE FOR CHRISTMAS
RELEASE FOR CHRISTMAS - IT WOULD BE PARTICULARLY FELICITOUS IF YOU WERE
THE SPRING FESTIVAL.
DOUGLAS-HOME
FILES
FED
+
if ELGD
SIR S TO LIMBON
SIR .. MAINSON!
IR MILFORD
FSPCMR ROYLE
-2-
COHFIDEFAZAL
-
י
51
Sir S Tomlinson
CONFRONTATION PRISONERS IN HONG KONG
enteropa
S.M
14.1
91 12
1. The Political Adviser has sent a copy of the Chinese
petition for further releases. Forty-one of the 74 prisoners
are specifically named. By Chinese standards it is moderately
phrased. It has the implication that if the Hong Kong
Government wishes to release the prisoners on the grounds of
ill health, youth or being females then the local communists
do not intend rocking the boat by suggesting that this was
really a political concession.
8 January 1971
Copy to:
Sir L Monson
Mr Laird (HKD)
Mr Wilford or
SALMugen
J AL Morgan
Far Eastern Department
Yer this wording is
interesting
Bra
dombi bins the interpretation you have put on it.
hila
ms
311
A.P.A.
L
597/0/70
Translation
کر
2
- Social Services Branch
Letter-head: Hong Kong & Kowloon Spinning, Weaving and
Dyoing Trade Workers General Union.
Head Office: 22, Cheung Sha Wan Road, 4/F, Kowloon.
Tel: 802191
+
To: Mr. Hugh Norman-Walker,
The Colonial Secretary,
29th December 1970
We, representatives of the families of 74 patriotic compatriots still
unreasonably detained in jail, are calling on you to raise with you a
joint demand of the families of all the patriotic compatriots in jail.
-
Our next of kin including our husbands, children, brothers, sisters and
relatives - were unreasonably arrested and sentenced by the Hong Kong
British authorities in 1967. Numerous facts have served to demonstrate
that our next of kin have deep affection for our great leader Chairman
Mao and for our socialist fatherland, and that they are subjected to
long- term imprisonment merely because they insist on their patrictic
standpoint. During the several years of imprisonment, they have been
seriously undermined mentally and physically. Also our family life is
rendered to an abnormal state because we are separated from them and we
are compelled to suspend our job. Moreover, our special concern goes to
our next of kin. Some of them are aged, wounded and in Ead health; some
are in their adolescence; and some are females. Owing to the fact that
they have long been injured and in bad health, there is a pressing need
that they be freed so that they may be medically treated and cared for
in the normal family life. For this matter we now raised with you on
behalf of the families of all the patrio- tic compatriots in jail, the
demand that all our kinsmen being imprisoned be released expeditiously.
This is especially so for those of our kinsmen who are in the
above.entioned conditions; steps should be taken now to immediately
release them.
We hope that you will seriously consider our demand and give us an early
reply.
Postscript: Demand for:
Representatives of families of patriotic compatriots in jail: Fenily of
CHAN Kwong-yan;
Family of WUN Kam-hung;
Family of NGAI Sin-luen;
Family of FUNG Shing; and Family of CHU Ping-yin.
expeditious release of all our kinsmen in jail; and immediate release of
those critically injured, ill and in bad health as well as the youth and
females.
/Name List
+
+
- 2
L
Nam List:
WUN Kan-hung, TSANG Fai-ming, LAM Kwun-tak, 8ZETO Foon, CHAN
Kwong-yan,CHAN Yik, WONG Kan-kei, MA 8hu-keung,
FUNO Shing, TSUI Chun, TSOI Hoi-yin, CHAN Wing-cheung, CHAN Ma-choi, 80
Poon, YU Tung, CHAN Shu-nam, CHAN Kai-yu, MOK Siu-kuil, LING Suet-keung,
WONG San, YIU Kan-wu,
Lo Sui-yan, CHAN Sun-keung, LEUNG Pun, CHAN Hon,
CHU ping-yin, LAM Sing, LO Hop-tung, TAM Wai-ming,
NGAI Sin-luen (female), WUN Fung-kwai (female), TS01 Kam-kwong, NG
Sui-tai, LI Kwai-fong (F), CHAN Yuen-yu (F), KWAN Siu-king(F),
LAU Ying-kwan, WONG Ting-sau, CHAN Yuk-wa, CHAN Tat-hong,
LI Man-wai, etc.
Кисилев
Date of Reipt: 2 9 DEC 1970 late of Tution2 9 DEC 1970
L
:
Caleniel Strik
Recewind by types (G) 22/12/ to! 11.00 a.m.
1/T's Sign. ture;
Ukes
་་
:
-
必
港九紡織染業職工總會
鹋 會:深水埗是沙灣道二十二號五樓 九龍排支會:土瓜灣九巋武道三十七號二樓
荃灣支會:荃灣衆安街一○○號六樓
正因精
國領判
神立袖
親
毛的
都
電話:802191
電話:625127 電話:888呌424
胞同
輔
胞我政
我 們 的 的的 家
親共
人
包求
們
政司躍樂民先生:
们是七十四位仍
驕代表、來
代士民
人
聚
到
期社
重
掏
向被
数
被們
祖
你
們
提
理
英
出
掏
光七
主明年
卻是在一九六七年
立場而被媽
,有不少是
因不能和視
正常的狀態。尤其
年 纪 大
職業工
我
們
拘禁在
在
弟
大和妹
獄
獃中
的
的丈夫、兒女、兄
仇人一向都
他們長
堅持
害;而我們的家庭生
A
發們
区的
育的期家
陷
拎
生獄
少中不活
鸟的是,在我們
A
两人正在
的青小
弱
工的 切作
是迫
來
的
親
是人
為
港
港九紡織染業職工總會
總 會:深水埗長沙灣道二十二號五樓 九龍城定會:土瓜灣九熊批道三十七戴二樓
荃灣支禽:荃灣衆安街-00號六樓
電話:802191
電話:625127 電話:888叫424
釋對向 放具你
希望你認真
(附件)
有上述情
况
的
在們
人
獄的
朱
馮魏
爱
倩鳥的
的 的
家家家
的的胞
更應立
的要求,並迅速
採
求
逃
調
恢
此復
們
特俾
代 能
表在 放
我
在
獄
中 措
的
施
A
親
獃
+
年;還有一些是
女
都
於他們
在家庭正常生
長期傷病,更意
以醫
属治
切
活
胞加
家
代
表
立
的
家
以
港九紡織染業職工總會
;旺角砵蘭街三四七至三四九號四樓 九龍城支會;土城湖九體城道三十七號二檀
銎掺安龠:荟潤槳安鳄一○○號六樓
锻話:801460
電話:825127
電話:88994424
陳陳馮
继媽
放
才