TNAG-0109-FCO40-145-Detainees-and-prisoners-following-19671968-disturbances-1968 — Page 51

CONFIDENTIAL

54

Mr. W. S. Carter

I mentioned to Mr. Gaminara yesterday that, against the re-examination of the action we should take to secure the release of Mr. Anthony Grey, I would like to be certain that we have available essential information about the Communist detainees and prisoners held in Hong Kong. I am thinking in particular of the following:-

2.

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

The 13 Convicted Press Workers

I would like to know the dates of their arrest (? all after Mr. Grey's detention), the charges on which they were convicted and their expected dates of release.

Detainees

I think we know the current number and the projected scale of release up to the end of the year and we obviously cannot ask for a projection beyond that. But it would be helpful to have an idea of how many are hard core and how many are considered to be less dangerous; and the nature of the case against them.

Confrontation Prisoners

Sir Donald Hopson's memorandum of 29 July spoke of 700 Communist prisoners held in Hong Kong as a result of the 1967 disturbances whom the Chinese Government wished to see released; and said that the majority would be released in the normal way in 1968 and 1969 though some 80 to 90 would remain in prison after that date, some until 1974. A further breakdown of these figures and the projected release rate would be valuable together with a broad indication of the type of offence for which they were convicted.

If any of the above information is not available here, I hope it will be possible to ask for it without unduly alarming the Hong Kong Government about our intentions. It could perhaps be explained that with mounting press and parliamentary interest we need full and accurate information.

Copy to: Mr. C. Wilson

Wohnowl

a

CONFIDENTIAL

j. o. Moreton)

(J. O.

28 November 1968.

Mr. Gaminara,

tve spoke. You are

drafting

Felegram seeking any necessary

information.

29/11