TNAG-0033-FCO40-69-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 37

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CONFIDENTIAL

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Mr. Cradock is justified in claiming that a definite policy

of releasing detainees in exchange for exit visas, deportations

of British subjects and so on was ever precisely agreed and

that the Governor is now going back on it.

Fles D 848)4.

In Peking telegram No. 898 in reply to Hong Kong telegram

lag E (83) No. 2015, Mr. Cradock challenged the Governor's justification

for keeping detainees in custody on the following grounds:-

(a) Security Since the Chinese Government had abandoned

the policy of violence it was unlikely that any released

detainees would cause trouble which might lead to a further

outbreak of violence. In any case the Chinese could if

they so wished cause trouble through the agency of

communists already at liberty.

(b) Public Opinion

Reactions to releases so far have been

calm and the policy could be easily explained as a

response to the improving political situation in the Colony.

(c) Propaganda by the Communists Some face-saving victory

was essential, though in fact propaganda reaction to

releases so far have been very restrained.

(a) Releases as an instrument of political policy

It was

impossible to deny that detention was a political act;

release was therefore the same and should be used as an

instrument of "do-escalation”.

Mr. Cradock reiterated his objections with considerable force

when he learned that the Governor had in fact renewed a detention

Buy order

Flag Forder for one detainee (Hong Kong telegram No. 2034) stating

that this would be a severe set back to easing relations, that

/ the action

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CONFIDENTIAL,