TNAG-0033-FCO40-69-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 41

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scarcely fair to suggest that he has gone

back on a policy already agreed.

3.

he is certainly room for argument, as the

Governor himself has conceded, about the extent

of the security risks involved in any particular

release. But as he has indicated in Para. 2 of

Hong Kong telegram no. 2038 there were special

reasons why it was decided to renew the detention

of Number 3. Likewise it was decided after careful

consideration that it would be better to defer the

release of the two film stars until the period of

National Days celebrations because of the commotion

which might be caused at an already difficult time by

the release of persons enjoying wide personal

popularity. In matters of this sort and indeed

in security questions as a whole you will I am sure agree that it is very difficult to try to play the'

hand anywhere but in Hong Kong. It was for this

reason that we decided not to ask the Governor to

reconsider his decision not to release any more

detainees until after the holiday.

We see some force however in the points you

make about security in relation to current Chinese

policy, and about public opinion and propaganda.

We shall wish to discuss these very fully with

the Governor in the course of consultations in the

week beginning 21 October.

In the meantime I do

not think that any useful purpose would be served

if we tried to define policy more precisely.

032717 E.W.& S.,Ltd. 164m 3/67.

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