TNAG-0113-FCO40-149-Detainees-and-prisoners-following-19671968-disturbances-1969 — Page 98

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SPECIFICALLY, QUOTE IF ALL THE PATRIOTIC JOURNALISTS WERE RELEASED,

GREY'S FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT WOULD BE RESTORED. THE CHINESE

GOVERNMENT MEANS WHAT IT SAYS. IT IS NOW UP TO THE BRITISH

GOVERNMENT. UNQUOTE.

5. MA REJECTED OUR PROTEST ABOUT THEIR REFUSAL TO PERMIT CONSULAR ACCESS TO THOSE UNDERGOING INVESTIGATION ON THE GROUNDS THAT THOSE CONCERNED HAD VIOLATED CHINESE LAW OR REGULATIONS, THAT THE APPROPRIATE CHINESE AUTHORITIES HAD THE RIGHT TO DETERMINE

THE LENGTH OF INVESTIGATION, AND THAT ALL CASES WOULD BE DECIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHINESE LAW, HE AGREED TO PASS ON OUR REQUESTS

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND FOR CONSULAR ACCESS TO HIS GOVERNMENT. HE ADDED THAT HE HIMSELF HAD NO FURTHER NEWS ABOUT INDIVIDUAL CASES.

6. REFERRING TO RECENT REMARKS BY THE PRIME MINISTER AND MYSELF IN

THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, HE ACCUSED THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT OF USING THESE CASES TO ATTACK CHINA AND TO LAUNCH PROTESTS. HE WARNED

THAT THESE TACTICS WOULD NOT SUCCEED AND DEMANDED THAT THEY SHOULD

CEASE.

7. IN REPLY MORETON DREW ATTENTION TO RECENT MEASURES TAKEN BY THE

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO NORMALISE THE SITUATION IN HONG KONG (THE RELEASE OF THE LAST DETAINEE, THE LIFTING OF EMERGENCY

REGULATIONS AND THE REVIEW OF CASES OF PRISONERS SERVING LONG-TERM SENTENCES). HE POINTED OUT THAT THE ELEVEN NEWSWORKERS HAD BEEN CONVICTED AND SENTENCED FOR SPECIFIC OFFENCES AND THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, IN DEALING WITH THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW, WAS ONLY EXERCISING THE SAME RIGHT WHICH MA HAD CLAIMED FOR THE

CHINESE GOVERNMENT. IN REPLY HE SAID QUOTE WE HAVE TAKEN NOTE OF

THESE RECENT MEASURES OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT UNQUOTE. BUT PROTESTED THAT THE ELEVEN WERE INNOCENT AND HAD BEEN

IMPRISONED ON TRUMPED-UP CHARGES.

8. MORETON REJECTED THE ALLEGATION THAT THE ELEVEN HAD BEEN

IMPRISONED ON TRUMPED-UP CHARGES AND CONCLUDED BY SUMMARISING HIS EARLIER REMARKS AND EXPRESSING THE STRONG HOPE THE CHINESE WOULD RESPOND TO OUR VARIOUS SUGGESTIONS. MA REITERATED HIS DEMAND THAT ALL ATTACKS ON CHINA SHOULD CEASE IF SINO/BRITISH RELATIONS WERE TO IMPROVE.

STEWART.

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