TNAG-0032-FCO40-68-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 183

CONFIDENTIAL

in refusing to consider releasing convicted prisoners in the

Colony before they would normally be due for release with

remission. Attempts to interest the Chinese in the release

of prisoners to China, i.e. some form of disguised deportation,

have been unsuccessful: they would clearly wish to exploit

any release as a political victory. We were already examining

the matter with the Commonwealth Office when Mr. Long's letter

arrived. We shall now push forward the examination as a

matter of urgency.

ly a I attach a draft interim reply to Mr. Long in which the

Commonwealth Office concur.

CONFIDENTIAL

(James Murray)

26 July, 1968.