Cypher/Cat A
TOP COPY
CONFIDENTIAL
IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
Telno 50
CONFIDENTIAL
10 January 1968
241
ню
120
Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No. 50 of 10 January Repeated for information to Peking.
Peking telegram No. 22 to Foreign Office: Review of sentences on Communist prisoners.
I shall of course consider this proposal most carefully, but it raises a number of complexities and it may be some time before I am able to answer in detail.
2.
In fact. we have already made a number of "gestures" to the local Communists during the past few weeks. We have stopped raids on Communist Trade Union premises even when we have reason to suppose they are being used for illegal purposes; and we have ceased to look for leading Communists on the arrest list except where the charges against them are grave. As a result, a number have come out of hiding. We have also (as you know) deferred civil actions against the Communist Press, delayed the seizure of the Nam Chung Press 82 my telegram No. 1820 to you) and followed a very mild line of action
in relation to the G.1.S. teleprinters hired out to Communist newspapers (my telegram No.20 not copied to Peking).
T4B14/32
3. In addition, as I have not yet reported, I have recently remitted caning sentences imposed during December on 12 middle-school students accused of intimidating Assembly. Again, on 11 January the Attorney General will accounce immunity from prosecution for anyone who, between now and the Chinese New Year, reports or hands over to police any explosives, arms or ammunition illegally in his possession.
40 Our military plans during the next few weeks will afford further evidence of our willingness to reduce tension. On the border, we are at present contemplating the withdrawal of the army by stages after the middle of January from front Line positions at Lowu and subsequently other points to the East. If there is no further violence it seems likely that the extra battalion will be withdrawn from Hong Kong in February,
5.
All these developments are providing, and will provide proof of our willingness to "de-escalate"。 The major question is whether the making of such gestures is likely to be productive or counter-productive. This I would still like further time to assess: As well as time to consider in detail what releases might be practicable and under what conditions.
LAGI
ALL
236
BEXT
፡
RECETED IN ARCHIVES No. 63 10 JA.6.48
CONFIDENTIAL
25172621
HILIA 3/2
/Foreign Office
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.