TNAG-0112-FCO40-148-Detainees-and-prisoners-following-19671968-disturbances-1969 — Page 19

CYPHER/CAT A & BY BAG

CONFIDENTIAL

IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

ELEGRAM NUMBER 184

TOP COPY

TO CANBERRA

7 MARCH 1969. (HKK 1/12)

209

:

CONFIDENTIAL.

ADDRESSED TO CANBERRA TELEGRAM NUMBER 184 OF 7 MARCH REPEATED FOR

INFORMATION SAVING TO HONG KONG.

(203)

YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 235: LETTER FROM J. ALLO.

LINE TAKEN IN LETTER IS SIMILAR TO THAT TAKEN IN LETTER FROM JOHN REAR WHICH APPEARED IN LONDON QUOTE TIMES UNQUOTE OF 11 NOVEMBER, 1968. YOU WILL OBTAIN SOME, GUIDANCE FROM THE OFFICIALLY INSPIRED REPLY WHICH APPEARED IN QUOTE TIMES UNQUOTE OF 14 NOVEMBER OVER SIGNATURE OF SEDGWICK, DIRECTOR OF HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE

HERE.

2. THE PROCESS OF RELEASING DETAINEES IN HONG KONG HAS BEEN IN PROGRESS SINCE SEPTEMBER, 1967 AND SIX WEEKS AGO THE NUMBER REMAINING IN DETENTION WAS REDUCED TO FOUR. THESE REMAINING DETAINEES WILL BE RELEASED AS SOON AS THE SECURITY SITUATION IN THE COLONY PERMITS. EMERGENCY LEGISLATION (UNDER WHICH DETAINEES ARE HELD) MUST OFTEN PROVIDE, IN A SITUATION AFFECTING THE SECURITY OF STATE, ADDITIONAL POWERS FOR THE EXECUTIVE AND A DEROGATION FROM NORMAL PROCESSES OF RULE OF LAW. THERE IS NO DESIRE WHATEVER TO CONTINUE SUCH LEGISLATION IN FORCE ANY LONGER THAN

IS NECESSARY IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND IT WILL BE DISCONTINUED

AS SOON AS THIS CAN SAFELY BE DONE.

3. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE WHATEVER TO SUGGEST THAT DETENTION BY CHINESE OF YACHT PASSENGERS HAS ANY CONNEXION WITH COMMUNIST DETAINEES IN HONG KONG. NOR IS THE REFERENCE TO 11 JOURNALISTS

MEAT

REF.

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CONFIDENTIAL

/AT ALL