CONFIDENTIAL
release of confrontation prisoners is to be further speeded
up in the hope that this would persuade the Chinese to
release some of the British subjects detained in China,
the criteria on which rem ions are normally granted
will have to be reviewed, In favour of this, it can be
said that:
(i) The situation in Hong Kong today is very
different from the situation in 1967 when
the communists were challenging the authority
of the Government at all levels. We now
know that the Chinese Government have
instructed the communists in Hong Kong to
avoid any trial of strength with the
authorities and to concentrate on winning
mass support for their cause by lawful
means.
On the other hand
J
(ii) The stretching of the normal review
procedures last year strained public
credibility. There was pointed public
comment at the time and the Hong Kong
non-communist Press gave full coverage
to a letter from eighty prisoners
accusing the Board of Review of being
partial towards left-wing prisoners. (iii) The unofficial members of the Board
were upset by the criticism being levelled
at them in private conversation by many
who did not approve of any leniency
towards this category of prisoner.
CONFIDENTIAL
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