CYPHER CAT A
ROUTINE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NO. 677
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
29 27 AUGUST 1969
TOP COPY
ADDRESSED F C O TELNO 677 OF 27 AUGUST R FI PEKING.
18
YOUR TELEGRAM 557: ARREST OF COMMUNIST TRADE UNION OFFICIAL.
YOUR PARA. 2. IT HARDLY SEEMED REASONABLE TO LEAVE THE ACCUSED
IN GAOL AWAITING THE VERDICT AND SENTENCE FOR A PERIOD OF TWO
MONTHS OR POSSIBLY LONGER, AND AS HE HAD ELUDED US FOR SO LONG
IT WAS HARDLY A CASE FOR BAIL. THE TRIAL ACCORDINGLY WENT
FORWARD ON 22 AND 26 AUGUST AND CONCLUDED WITH A VERDICT OF
GUILTY AND A SENTENCE OF NINE MONTHS.
2. YOUR PARA. 3. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GIVE A DEFINITE ANSWER,
SINCE IT DEPENDS MAINLY UPON THE BEHAVIOUR OF THE 37 MEN.
ON THE BASIS OF PAST EXPERIENCE SHOULD NOT EXPECT MANY TO
BE ARRESTED IN SAY THE NEXT SIX MONTHS. INDEED NG YEE'S ARREST
SHOULD ENCOURAGE THE OTHERS TO KEEP OUT OF THE WAY.
3. THE COMMUNIST PRESS IS PROTESTING ON THE EXPECTED LINES.
:
(F C O PLS PASS TO PEKING)
SIR D. TRENCH
FILES
FAR EASTERN DEPT
HONG KONG DEPT
MR. WILFORD
SIR S. TOMLINSON
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION
4 COPIES TO UNITED NATIONS DEPT
SIR E. PECK
LAST
REF.
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN
R GISTRY No.51
27 AUG 1969
HKKN/2)
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