be
You will wish to be aware that, as part of the continuing process of
review of prison sentences in Hong Kong, a number of réductions in the
sentences of prisoners sentenced in 1967 have been made. The result of
these decisions will that one prisoner will be released on 13 September,
whose earliest release date would have been 13 January 1973; further
prisoner will be released on 4 October, whose earliest
and 2 more release date would have been 4 February 1973; prisoners will
be released on 18 October, whose earliest release dates would have been
18 February 1973.
In addition,
a further prison r will be released on 21 Jovenber, whose earliest
release date would have been 21 Bovember 1973. process of review of
sentences by the Prison Board of keview will continue, as will normal
releases.
I take this opportunity to convey my best wishes.
Blind copies to:
A F Maddocks, Esq Hong Kong JAL Morgan Esq FCO
JB Denson
CONFIDENTIAL
27.9
RECEIVED IN | R.GILTRY No.301 27SEP 1971
116
cc. Mr. Wilford
FEH 14/1
gazla
CYPHER/CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL '
IMP COPY
FM HONG KONG 2572552
CONFIDENTIAL
TO ROUTINE FCO TELNO 708 OF 25TH SEPTEMBER, 1971. INFO
PEKING.
102
110
MADDOCKS'S LETTER OF 20 JULY TO MORGAN AND HIS REPLY OF 3 SEPT.
WANTED PERSONS.
ON 22 SEPTEMBER POLICE ARRESTED A MAN IN CONNEXION WITH A BURGLARY WHO
TURNED OUT TO BE HO SHU-CHEUNG. HE HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF THE MURDER OF A
POLICE CONSTABLE IN DECEMBER 1967.
2. IT SEEMS THAT HE SPENT MOST OF THE TIME SINCE DECEMBER 1967
IN CHINA BUT ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO RETURNED TO HONG KONG AS
-
AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT BY SWIMMING MIRS BAY. THIS FACT MAY ENCOURAGE THE
CHINESE AUTHORITIES NOT TO MAKE A FUSS.
3. THE ARREST HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE PRESS. THERE HAS BEEN NO
COMMUNIST RE-ACTION.
FCO PASS COPY HK GOVT OFFICE LONDON
TRENCH
FILES
FED
AKO
COPIES TO:
HK GOVT OFFICE
CONFIDENTIAL
54 PALL MALL SWI.
[
The Morgan.
Reference
SECRET.
115]
You with have noticed that the first sentence
113 of HK Tel No 89 to Peking
is the first rejoinder of
any kind we have had to The Laird's letter of 10
Angust
to the Acting Governor.
2. This will be the last Board I Reviews to meet under the present
Governor. The Chinese will not expect
bout they
with
£304 04
Sir D. Trench
very much from it If they hear of it, begin to sit up expectantly as
leaves.
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CONFIDENTIAL.
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No. 50
3971
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TO ROUTINE FCO TELNO 99% OF 10 SEPTEMBER INFO HONG KONG.
HONG KONG TELMO 39 TO 12:
CONFRONTATION PRISONERS.
1. I SENT A LETTER ON THE USUAL LINES TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE
EASTERN EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN DEPARTMENT, EMISTRY OF FOREIGN
Fal25, TRIS HORNING.
+
DENSON
FILES
FFD
H K D
MR WILFORD
NNNNN
REPEATED AS REQUESTED/
COPY TO:
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
CONFIDENTIAL
114
CONFIDENTIAL
PRIORITY
RECEIVED IN
CYPHER/CAT A
REGISTRY No.
1QSE, I§)
FM HONG KONG 092550Z
FEH 14/1
CONFIDENTIAL
COFY
113
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING TELNO 89 OF 9 SEPTEÏBER İKFC PRIORITY FCO.
YOUR TELNO 113 TO ME: CONFRONTATION PRISONERS.
THE BOARD OF REVIEW WILL NEXT MEET ON 16 SEPTEMBER BUT THE ONLY
CONFRONTATION PRISONERS TO BE CONSIDERED TH EN ARE THE TWO
SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT. IT IS LIKELY THAT THE BOARD WILL EITHER
POSTPONE THEIR CASES FOR SIX MONTHS OR RECOMMEND LONG DETERMINATE
SENTENCES. BUT IT IS NOT GENERALLY KNOWN IN HONG KONG THAT THE BOARD
WILL NEET ON THE 16TH AND PROBABLY NOT KNOWN TO THE COMMUNISTS OR THE
CHINESE. I THEREFORE. THINK IT BEST TO CARRY ON WITH THE ORIGINAL PLAN
SET OUT IN PARAGRAPH 7 OF MY TELNO 87) 471 TO THE FCO. I SUGGEST YOU
SHOULD INFORM THE MINISTRY ON SEPTEMBER
10 OF THE FIVE REMAINING RELEASES. WE WOULD MAKE CUR USUAL LOW LEVEL
PRESS RELEASE ON SEPTEMBER 12,
FCO PASS COPY TO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
COMMS NOTE/: HAVE PASSED TO PEKING
TRENCH
FILE S
COFY TO: HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
FED
HKD
MR WILFORD
CONFIDENTIAL
IMMEDIATE
R
CYPHER CAT A
R
1971
V
+
TOP Cur
112
FN PEKING 090350Z
CONFIDENTIAL
FEH 14/1
TO INMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 116 OF 9 SEPTEMBER INFO IMMEDIATE FCO.
MY TELNO 113 TO YOU: CONFRONTATION PRISONERS.
1. I TAKE IT THAT YOU DO NOT WISH ME TO WRITE TO THE FA TOMORROW.
DENSON
FILES FED
MR WILFORD
[REPEATED TO HONG KONG]
CONFIDENTIAL
4
+
and T
I
·
+
CYPHER CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
TH
TOP COPT
FM PEKING 060740Z
CONFIDENTIAL
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TELNO 113 OF 6 SEPTEMBER INFO FCO',
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR.
·
Ex 14/2]
MORGAN'S LETTER FEH 14/1 OF 25 AUGUST TO SAMUEL, COPIED TO
MADDOCKS: CONFRONTATION PRISONERS.
1. YOU WILL REMEMBER WE DISCUSSED WHETHER YOU SHOULD DELAY THE
RELEASE OF THE PRISONER DUE OUT IN SEPTE BER UNTIL AFTER THE NEXT
REVIEW BOARD HAD HET SO THAT IF THE BOARD DID NOT RECOMMEND FURTHER
RELEASES IT WOULD NEVERTHELESS APPEAR THAT IT HAD DONE SO, IF YOU
STILL FAVOUR THIS PROCEDURE AND LONDON CONCUR I WILL DELAY
WRITING TO THE CHINESE UNTIL AFTER THE MEETING AND DEPENDING ON
THE RESULT WE CAN CONSIDER HOW FURTHER RELEASES, IF ANY, SHOULD
BE NOTIFIED TO THE CHINESE.
DENSON
FILES
FED
MR WILFORD
FFFFF
кво же
/REPEATED TO HONG KONG/
CONFIDENTIAL
5
For well
A F Maddocks Baq
HONG KONG
SECRET
930-8440
110
Batcher 3/9
AR
8LR 6/2621/67 III
3 September 1971
for
1967 VANTED PERSONS
Thank you for your letter 9LR 6/2621/67 III of 20 July.
I am sorry not la have replied before.
2. We agree with the Governor's decisions.
We also agree
that the matter should not be raised with the Chinese.
Copied to:
JB Denson Esq., OBE Peking
SECRET
(J AL Morgan)
Par Eastern Department
(145101) 06 737490 750M 171 He
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry No.
JURITY CLASSIFICATION
Secret.
SECRET
DRAFT LETTER
To:-
Type 1 +
From
Mr Morgan
Telephone No. & Ext,
PRIVACY MARKING
A F Maddocks Esq HONG KONG
Cc: J B Denson Esq OBE
PEKING
In Confidence
Department
Far Eastern
1967 WANTED PERSONS
1.
Thank you for your letter SLR 6/2621/67 III of
We also
20 July. I am sorry not to have replied before.
We agree with the Governor's decisions.
agree that the matter should not be raised with the
2.
Chinese.
Yea
150
3/9/71
SECRET
SM
39
A
B
SECRET
I
101
Nr yfford
HONG KONG : "WANDED PERSONS"
!
1. I attach a copy of a self-explanatory letter from Mr Haddocks,
together with the telegram referred to in paragraph 1. I fear that the
letter was mislaid.
2. I recommend that we accept the Governor's decisions although
the case against Kr Ip does not seem very serious. I should
like to write to Mr Maddocks on the lines of the attached draft.
Hong Kong Department agree.
3.
copied to
Hr Laird, Hong Kong Department
Mr Ritchie
PUSD
2 September 1971
JALM
igin
J A L Korgan
Far Eastern Department
case
but
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37
وسه
1
L
E
CYPHER CAT A/
PRIORITY HONG KONG
"LĒGRAM NUMBER 869'
SECRET
CR
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE' 14 NOVEMBER 1969
7 620
282
*.
ADDRESSED TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE, TELEGRAM NUMBER 869. OF 14
NOVEMBER REPEATED FOR INFORMATION PEKING.
PEKING TELEGRAM 65 TO YOU.
UNDE
I HAVE NOT REACTED EARLIER TO THE TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE, AS THE
SITUATION IT ENVISAGED HAS TO AN EXTENT BEEN OVERTAKEN BY EVENTS, FOR
EXAMPLE THE SUBSEQUENT TRICKLE OF BRITISH SUBJECTS RELEASED, THE ARREST
OF MCBAIN AND MRS MARTIN, AND CONCLUDING WITH THE DIALO' REFERRED TO IN
YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 450 TO PEKING.
2. WE ARE NOT THINKING IN TERMS OF ANY IMMEDIATE OR DRAMATIC CHANGE OF
POLICY FOLLOWING THE RELEASE OF GREY, BUT WE DO HAVE UNDER REVIEW THE
VARIOUS AREAS IN WHICH WE HAVE IMPOSED RESTRAINTS ON OURSELVES,
PARTICULARLY THOSE AREAS IN WHICH IT MIGHT APPEAR TO THE PUBLIC THAT
COMMUNISTS OR COMMUNIST INSTITUTIONS WERE ENJOYING A
MORE FAVOURABLE POSITION THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION. THE REVIEW WILL IN
ANY CASE TAKE SOME TIME, AND I WOULD NATURALLY ADVISE YOU IN ADVANCE OF
ANY CHANGE OF DIRECTION CONTEMPLATED IN ANY PARTICULAR AREA WHICH MIGHT
HAVE REPERCUSSIVE EFFECTS.
3. YOU WILL OF COURSE UNDERSTAND THAT TO AN EXTENT THE ADMINISTRATION
HERE IS AT THE MERCY OF EVENTS, A GOOD EXAMPLE IS THE CASE OF THE MEN
WANTED FOR CRIMES COMMITTED DURING THE 1967 CONFRONTATION, WHICH IS
SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED IN THE TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE. THE LIST HAS
BEEN MOST CAREFULLY REVIEWED AND NOW NUMBERS 33, ALL OF
SECRET
/WHOM ARE
t
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No.51
25 NOV 1969
AKK 1/12
+
་་
LANT
REF.
(282)
NEKT
REF.
291
|
I
SECRET
+
+
WHOM ARE WANTED FOR SERIOUS OFFENCES UNDER THE ORDINARY LAW. OF THESE 22
ARE PROBABLY IN CHINA OR UNTRACEABLE, THE INTERIM POLICY, KEPT
· CONSTANTLY UNDER REVIEW, IS THAT THE REMAINING 11 WILL NOT BE SEARCHED
OUT IN DELICATE AREAS, BUT THAT IF FOUND AND RECOGNISED.IN A PUBLIC
PLACE OR BY A POLICE OFFICER IN THE COURSE OF HIS DUTIES THEY WILL BE
PICKED UP AND PROSECUTED, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THIS MIGHT HAPPEN AT ANY
TIME. TO IGNORE THE OVERT PRESENCE OF SUCH PEOPLE WOULD SERIOUSLY
UNDERMINE THE REPUTATION OF THE POLICE FORCE AND ORDERS TO DO SO WOULD
SERIOUSLY DAMAGE THE MORALE OF THE FORCE.
4. I THINK HOWEVER THAT THERE IS ONE ASPECT OF THE SITUATION ON WHICH WE
MUST BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL. IN MY VIEW THERE IS NO LOGICAL OR REASONABLE
CONNECTION BETWEEN ANY OF THE PERSONS STILL HELD BY THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT ON THE ONE HAND AND EVENTS IN HONG KONG ON THE OTHER. WHILE I
AGREE THAT ANY SUDDEN AND DRAMATIC ALTERATION IN POLICIES MIGHT HAVE ITS
DANGERS ON THE ONE SIDE, BUT ANY CONCESSION, WHICH MIGHT BE INTERPRETED
AS BEING IN RESPONSE TO CHINESE POLICIES WOULD HAVE EVEN GREATER DANGERS
AND WOULD CREATE THE GRAVEST DIFFICULTIES FOR THE FUTURE. ANY IDEA FOR
INSTANCE THAT THE HARD CORE OF CONVICTS LEFT OVER FROM 1967 IS
NEGOTIABLE WOULD CREATE A SITUATION WHICH MUST BE AVOIDED AT ALMOST ANY
COST.
5. AN INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER THE RECENT TRICKLE OF RELEASES HAD DRIED
UP WHICH I THINK WELL ILLUSTRATES THE SITUATION. A DETAINEE HAD BEEN
RELEASED IN JANUARY AND WAS PLACED UNDER SUPERVISION FOR 3 MONTHS,
DURING WHICH TIME HE FAILED TO REPORT TO THE POLICE, SOME SIX AND A HALF
MONTHS AFTER THE SUPERVISION ORDER HAD EXPIRED HE WAS NOTICED BY AN
ALERT POLICEMAN AND ARRESTED. WE THEN FOUND
th
1
SECRET
r
THAT THE
1.
↓
·
I
1
**
I
L
i
7
RET
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 869 TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
3
AT THE INFORMATION GIVEN TO YOU AT THE END OF PARAGRAPH 4 OF OUR
TELEGRAM 14 OF 21 JANUARY WAS INCORRECT, AND IN FACT PROCEEDINGS. COULD
HAVE BEEN TAKEN AGAINST HIM DESPITE THE LAPSE OF SIX MONTHS SINCE THE
OFFENCE WAS INDICTABLE, AS IT HAD BEEN APPARENTLY NEITHER OUR INTENTION
HOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING THAT BREACHES OF SUPERVISION ORDERS SHOULD BE
PROSECUTED AFTER THEY HAD EXPIRED, AND AS IT IS UNDESIRABLE TO BE FACED
WITH HAVING TO PROSECUTE DETAINEES WHO HAVE FAILED TO REPORT UNDER
SUPERVISION ORDERS FOR YEARS TO COME, THE DECISION WAS TAKEN NOT TO
PROSECUTE. BUT THE DECISION WAS A DIFFICULT ONE TO TAKE, IN THAT IT
MIGHT HAVE BEEN REPRESENTED AS BEING IN RESPONSE TO THE RELEASES OF
THOSE PREVIOUSLY DETAINED BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. (IN THE EVENT I
HAVE NO EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT THE
TWO EVENTS WERE CONNECTED BY ANYONE, THERE HAS BEEN NO PUBLICITY OF ANY
KIND AND I BELIEVE NO HARM TO HAVE BEEN DONE).
6. I WAS RELIEVED TO SEE FROM YOUR TELEGRAM HUMBER AMP TO PEKING THAT MA
HAD MADE NO MENTION OF HONG KONG IN DISCUSSING THE REMAINING
BRITISH SUBJECTS HELD. I HOPE WE CAN KEEP IT TRAT WAY.
7. I WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD PASS A COPY OF THIS TELEGRAM
TO SIR DAVID TRENCH.
FCO PASS PRIORITY TO PEKING.
SIR H NORMAN WALKER.
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
288
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.E.D.
CONSULAR DEPT
·
HONG KONG DEPT.
I.P.D.
I.R.D.
NEWS DEPT.
SFFFF
L
SECRE ?
2.
+
+
+
+
FER 14/1
RC Samuel Esq PHING
CONFIDENTIAL
25 August 1971
108
Despatch
25/8
06
CONFRONTATION PRISONERS
89
1. In John Denson's telegram No 634 of 12 July he agreed that it would
be useful to make a further communication to the Chinese in September
about releases of confrontation prisoners to follow up the letter to Mr
Chang Wen--ohin on 15 July. As you know another 5 are due for release
before the end of the year; the first on 13 September. Would you please,
unless Arthur Maddocks sees objection, send a similar letter on or about
10 September.
We have not mentioned this subject to the Chinese here of late and do
not intend doing so unless they raise it.
2.
The names and release dates were given in Hong Kong telegram No 472 of
10 July.
88
Copy to:
▲ ↑ Maddooks Esq FOG IO
CONFIDENTIAL
J A L Morgan
Far Eastern Department
26%
Mr Halford
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY No.50
25 AUG 1971
FEH 14/1
107
87
104
B
CONFRONTATION PRISONERS IN HONG KONG
1.
The following is the present position. There are
now 29 confrontation prisoners left. Of these, 6 will be
released by the end of the year, including the remaining 5 of
the 13 whose sentences were reduced by the Board of Review at
its last meeting in June. Six of the 13 were released in
July and 2 in mid-August.
2. At the end of the year 23 will remain.
None of these
are due for release in 1972, 11 are due in 1973, 7 in 1974,
1 in 1975 and 2 in 1976. The 2 others have life sentences.
3. The Governor made clear in his telegram No 471 of 10 July
that he regards the Board of Review's last recommendations as
the end of the road. The remaining 23 are mainly convicted
of acts of violence.
4. On your instructions Hong Kong Department prepared a
submission during your leave. It was approved by Mr Royle.
The submission recommended that the Governor should be asked
to arrange for the Board of Review to take certain considerations
into account at its next meeting in September with a view to
bringing as many releases as possible forward into 1972. It
also recommended that the whole question be discussed with
Sir Murray MacLehose during his briefing in September.
5. Mr Laird accordingly wrote to Sir Hugh Norman-Walker on
10 August setting out the considerations which Mr Royle had
CONFIDENTIAL
- 1 +
CONFIDENTIAL
05
agreed should be put to the Board of Review. I attach
a copy of this letter. No reply has yet been received.
6. It was earlier agreed that we should inform the Chinese
in September of the 5 releases planned for September, October
and November. The first of these 5 comes out on 13 September.
I propose therefore to instruct Mr Denson to send a letter
to the MFA on about 10 September
19 August 1971
Jagree
SALMugan
J A L Morgan
Far Eastern Department
Mr.24€
N
18
+