TNAG-0031-FCO40-67-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 4

made to the local branch of the liew China News Agency on 15th May,

1963 offering to release a person, at present detained at V.R.C. and

arrested in July last year for Chinese espionage activity, on the

understanding that the H.C.N.A. would make arrangements for his return

to China. It was pointed out that arrangements could be made to avoid

any publicity if this offer were to be accepted. After some delay

the reply from the N.C.N.A. categorically denied all knowledge of the

detainee concerned and stated that any attempt to deport him to Chine

would be unacceptable!

Possible means of arrencing return to China

8.

During the last months a careful study has been conducted

of the 52 detainees to ascertain whether they include any person who

might be important enough to the C.P.G. to be considered as a

bartering point, perhaps for the release of British Nationals detained

in China. The conclusion reached is that there is no such person at

present detained by Special Branch. Although some are senior

officials in various spheres of local communist activity none is

thought to be in possession of such important knowledge or holding

positions of such note that the 0.P.G. would be willing to relax

their present principles concerning deportation in order to obtain

his return to China; indeed, the C.P.G. might well consider that to

do so would only be to highlight to us the importance of the detainee

concerned.

9.

A deep study has also been made of the possibility of

arriving at some formula for the release of detainees which might be

acceptable to the C.P.3. with the implicit understanding that they

return to China. For example:-

(a) release at Tsim Sha Tsui or Lo u railway station on

the understanding that they return to China until the period

of their emergency detention order has expired, when

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