TNAG-0114-FCO40-150-Detainees-and-prisoners-following-19671968-disturbances-1969 — Page 44

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6. The Governor comes in his third paragraph to his

main purpose, to make it clear that he feels that there is

nothing more of substance that he can do in Hong Kong. He

is clearly unwilling to advance the dates of release of the

oleven newsworkers linked with Grey, whether under a cover

story or (although he does not mention this) as a deliberate

political gesture. The cases of the remaining long term

confrontation prisoners are in the hands of the Board of

Review and the Governor says he can do nothing more to speed

up their release should this be asked of him. With the

release of detainees and the shelving of the emergency

regulations we have, the Governor says, come to the end of

the positive steps we can take. This assumes that the

expulsion of confrontation prisoners to China - which the

Governor has always regarded as an acceptable solution -

remains unacceptable to the Chinese; which assumption is

almost certainly correct. The Governor also reminds us of

the likely dangers to public confidence in Hong Kong of any

further concessions on our side.

7.

I have the following comments on various points made

by the Governor.

(a)

Release of the Newsworkers

In a separate submission I have come to the conclusion

that we should not re-open with the Governor the

question of the premature release of the newsworkers.

SECRET