Cypher/at A
828
CONFIDENTIAL
RIORITY PIKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
To. 871
CONFIDENTIAL
19 September 1968
Addressed to F.0. telegram No. 871 of 19 September
Repeated for information to:
Hong Kong.
826
Hong Kong telegram No. 1084: Detainees.
I regret my error in over-looking two detainees released on 15 August. The total is 7 not 5. Nevertheless, this is scarcely the 'larger gesture involving a minimum of ten persons" suggested in paragraph 3 of your telegram No. 1362 to Hong Kong.
11
·√56)
2. As Governor pointed out, september will have seen no increase in the rate of releases. I think this unfortunate when September has seen an important watershed in the treatment of this mission, i.e. the fulfilment of Chinese undertaking of 27 July and granting of all outstanding exit visas. The fact that 49 confrontation prisoners happened to be released on 9 September is in no way a substitute; nor will Chinese regard it as such. These prisoners have served their terms; we are making no concession in setting them free.
3. The above argument relates only to this mission. It takes no account of the release of the Selfs which is of considerable importance. Recognition of this by releases of detainees should favourably influ- ence the Croziers' chances and possibly even the treatment of Johnston. We have everything to gain by marking this point.
4. I am sorry to see that after 27 September the Governor is unwilling to make any further releases until after 10 October and then only depending on how the National Day celebrations of 1 October and 10 October go, with implication that if there are any disturbances no detainees will be released. It is quite possible there will be some disturbances then, e.g. because of continuing ban on fireworks. However, far from withholding releases because there is such a risk, it would seem in our interests to Fre-empt trouble by releases before the critical days, especially since in so doing we should be reminding the Communists of what they have to gain by avoiding further provocation.
5. In general I fear we are not using releases of detainees as positively as we could. By increasing the rate of releases we have a chance of underlining the point that better treatment of this mission and of British subjects does bring dividends. We would not be making any major concession in so doing, nor would we be making prior concessions. We would be responding to Chinese moves, though the effect would be at the same time to provide insurance against further trouble in
/Hong Kong
IN
*HIVES No. 63
23 SEP#68
нивор
CONFIDENTIAL
LAST REF.
826
NEXT
834
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.