SECRET
13 February, 1969.
File
192
copy.
When Sir David Trench returned to Hong Kong in December he agreed to review the cases of the remaining detainees (then 16 in number) and the possible revocation of Regulation 31 of Emergency
I enclose copies of his letter
kck 1/12) (117) (then 16 ingenug Regulations.
to Sir Arthur Galsworthy, which contains his conclusions, and (89) of John Moreton's reply.
+289)
2. As you can see, John Moreton's reply endorses the Governor's present policy of releasing detainees as fast as he safely can having regard to security considerations and public opinion in Hong Kong In addition we have informed the Governor that we would prefer the release of detainees under police supervision orders, wherever possible, rather than their continued detention. You will remember that the question of supervision orders was the subject of telegraphic correspondence between you and Hong Kong. There are of course only four detainees remaining and the Governor is now considering their release under supervision orders.
3. In looking at the question of supervision orders we took your point that release in this form could give some ground for Communist propaganda as happened in the case of detainee No. 15 when the order was denounced in the Hong Kong Communist press as "fascist persecution" and might carry the risk of Chinese reaction. On the other hand it seemed to us that the Chinese would be likely to make more of re-arrest and imprisonment of a detainee who had broken the order. In view of the Governor's assurances on this point this seems unlikely to happen (Hong Kong telegram No. 14 of 21 January to you refers). On balance, therefore, the advantages of releasing under supervision orders seemed to us to outweigh the disadvantages by
a)
b)
o)
lessening the possibility of detainees causing trouble again; helping to reduce the risk involved in their release; and making it possible to contemplate their earlier release. It will of course be necessary to keep Regulation 31 in operation until all the detainees are released.
i
R. R. Garside, Esq.,
PEKING.
SECRET
(0. Wilson)
Desida taked AWR 13/2
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