TNAG-0111-FCO40-147-Detainees-and-prisoners-following-19671968-disturbances-1969 — Page 184

S. L/M 27/68

CONFIDENTIAL

8th July, 1962.

20

116/6 fill

15

!

I refer to your letter f 25th June, 1968, in which you convey for the consideration of the Hong Kong Covernment a number of points that have been put to you by the International Committes of the Red Cross in Geneva.

2. You first ask whether in your future visits your identity may be made known to persons imprisoned or detained. We would not wish to insist upon your identity not being made known if you feel that this would facilitate the discharge of your responsibilities to the Comraittee. It is not our own view that this would in fact assist you, and we believe that it might possibly involve you in embarrassment if persons under imprisonment or detention decided to make a political demonstration for your benefit. It is in fact our belief that prisoners and detainees are not particularly concerned with the identity of visitors whom they sec from time to time, and so far as I can determine from your own report on your visit to the Victoria Road Centre the fact that you were not identifiad does not appear in any way to have inhibited either you or the persons detained from establishing communication, In other words, our advice is that if you were identified as a representative of the Inter- national Committee of the Red Cross, this would probably not help and might hinder your visit. If, however, you decide that you wish to be identified, no objection will be raised.

3. No reason is seen why the Red Cross should not make a short mention in their fortnightly topical news bulletin of the kind to which you refer in your second paragraph.

4.

The views of the International Committee on the inside cells at Victoria Road are noted. As you are aware, the authorities responsible for Victoria Road Centre are going carefully into the possibility of making alterations in the accommodation arrangements at V.R.C, which would enable us to avoid the use of the inside cells in normal circumstances. I regret that I cannot at present indicate precisely what measures will be taken or when work could be completed, but no time is being List in seeking an improvement in the situation. At the same time I think that it is proper that I should correct the impression that these inside cells are without any access to daylight. I agree that they do not comply in all respects with

H. Hefti, Esq.,

Honorary Delegate I. C. R.C.,

c/o Ed. Keller & Co.,

Edinburgh House,

HONG KONG.

/contd...

CONFIDENTIAL

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