TNAG-0109-FCO40-145-Detainees-and-prisoners-following-19671968-disturbances-1968 — Page 144

CONFIDENT TAL

14

CYPHER/CAT A

IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1575

TO HONG KONG

- 11 NOVEMBER 1968 (HKK 1/12)

CONFIDENTIAL.

ADDRESSED TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 1575 OF 11 NOVEMBER REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING,

DETAINEES.

LONDON QUOTE TIMES UNQUOTE OF 11 NOVEMBER CARRIES A LETTER FROM JOHN REAR OF UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG ON ABOVE SUBJECT.

2. LETTER IS GENERALLY CRITICAL OF CONTINUED USE OF EMERGENCY REGULATIONS TO DETAIN PERSONS WITHOUT TRIAL AND IT STATES INTER ALLA THAT NAMES OF DETAINEES HAVE NEVER BEEN PUBLISHED, IF THIS IS IN FACT THE CASE GRATEFUL TO LEARN WHETHER THERE ARE PARTICULAR REASONS FOR NOT DISCLOSING IDENTITY OF DETAINED PERSONS, GRATEFUL ALSO TO LEARN EXACT NUMBER OF DETAINEES NOW MELD FOLLOWING THE TWO RELEASES MENTIONED IN YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 2153.

3. WE SHOULD ALSO APPRECIATE ANY BACKGROUND INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE ON REAR. ACCORDING TO CUR INFORMATION HE IS AN ASSISTANT LECTURER IN LAW IN THE EXTRA-MURAL DEPARTMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY AND HAS CONTRIBUTED ARTICLES TO FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC REVIEW WHICH HAVE, BEEN GENERALLY CRITICAL OF THE HONG KONG ADMINISTRATION.

4. SECRETARY OF STATE IS SEEING LONG OF REUTERS' TOMORROW (12 NOVEM- BER) AFTERNOON AND SINCE THIS MATTER MAY BE MENTIONED WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOUR REPLY MAY REACH US BY NOON TOMORROW.

STEWART

FILES

HONG KONG DEPT. FAR EASTERN DEPT.

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