TNAG-0033-FCO40-69-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 64

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

CONFIDENTIAL

2.

BUT CHAT HAS BEEN SAID SO PAR CERTAINLY SEEMS TO HAVE FROVED NEARER

THE TRUTH IN THE EVENT THAN WHAT HAS PASSEN DETVERN OFFICIAL REPRESENT

ATIVOS.

CH) I HAVE NEVER SUGGESTED HANGING ON TO THESE DETAINEES TO

THE BITTER END**. I HAVE SAID ONLY THAT THE PROPER CRITERION FOR

THEIR CONTINUED DETENTION OR OTHERWISE SHOULD ME WHETHER OR NOT

THEY ARE SECURITY RISKS, A FACTOR IN WHICH ASSESSMENT IS THE

SITUATION FROM THE TO TINE.

2.

VITH REFERENCE TO TELEGRAM NIMBER 905, NUMBER 3 IS A MAN WITH

A DANGEROUS DEGREE OF INFLUENCE IN THE SAT KUNG AREA OF THE NEW

TERRITORIES WHERE THERE 19 A STRONG COMMUNIST ELEMENT AND VHERR

TROITLE REKA INS CLOSE TO THE SURFACE. HIS REMOVAL HAD A SETTLING

EFFECT AND HIS RETURN THERE NOW WOULD NOT ONLY HEARTEN THE MILITANTS

IN THE AREA NUT WOULD DISMAY THOSE WHO REMAIN LOYAL, 1 AN UNWILLING

TO REVIEW HIS CASE NOW BUT IT VILL OF COURSE BE REVIEVED

REGULARLY

WITH ALL OTHERS. HE ALSO NOW HAS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAL

TO THE COMMITTEE OF REVIEW IP HE WISHES.

*

3. THESE DETAINEES ARE AN EMBARRASSMENT I WOULD BE GLAD TO, DE

RID OF, BUT ONLY IF THIS CAN BE DONE WITH SAFETY. IT IS WRONG

TO SUPPOSE THAT THE SITUATION HERE IS ENTIRELY WITHOUT DANGERS JUST

RECAUSE THE WORST VIOLENCE HAS CEASED FOR THE PRESENT. SO FAR THE

SMALLER FRY RELEASED HAVE NOT

PARTICULARLY COME TO NOTICE AGAIN, BUT THIS IS NO MORE THAN A

MOPEFUL SIGH FOR THE FUTURE WHICH CAN BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN

CONSIDERING FURTHER PELEASES. THE HARDER CASES CANNOT BE JUDGED

ENTIRELY ON THE BASIS OF THIS EXPERIENCE.

FO PLEASE PASS ROUTINE PEKING.

SIR D. TRENCH

/REPEATED AS REQUESTED/

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION,

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CONFIDENTIAL

PA.

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