TNAG-0216-FCO40-252-Detainees-and-prisoners-convicted-for-offences-during-the-di-1970 — Page 171

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GENERAL INTERNAL BLEEDING BUT IT WOULD BE IMPROPER, PENDING

THE INQUEST, TO MAKE ANY CATEGORICAL STATEMENT (CERTAINLY TO THE

CHINESE) AS TO THE PRECISE CAUSE OF DEATH.

2. TANG RECEIVED A NORMAL MONTHLY VISIT FROM A RELATIVE WHILE IN

PRISON HOSPITAL ON 17 DECEMBER. HE WAS ALSO VISITED ON 22 DECEMBER

BY A COUSIN IN QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL. ON 27TH HIS NEXT-OF-KIN WAS INFORMED AS SOON AS HE WAS JUDGED DANGEROUSLY ILL AND SIMILARLY ON

28TH WHEN HE BECAME CRITICAL AND ON 29TH WHEN HE DIED,

3. THE CASE WAS GIVEN PROMINENT TREATMENT IN THE COMMUNIST PRESS FOR

SEVERAL DAYS, WITH ALLEGATIONS OF NEGLECT AND PERSECUTION BY THE H.K.

AUTHORITIES IN THE CLASSIC STYLE OF CONFRONTATION AND DEMANDS FOR

ACCEPTANCE OF RESPONSIBILITY BY THE BRITISH, AN END TO PERSECUTION,

RELEASE OF ALL CONFRONTATION PRISONERS, AND COMPENSATION FOR THE

FAMILY OF THE DECEASED. THESE DEMANDS WERE REPEATED IN AN OFFENSIVE

LETTER ADDRESSED TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY AND AT THE FUNERAL WHICH

WAS CONDUCTED ON SATURDAY 3RD. DESPITE THE ATTENDANCE OF LARGE

NUMBERS OF UNION MEMBERS AND OTHERS THE FUNERAL WAS CONDUCTED

WITHOUT DISORDER. SINCE THEN THE GENERAL PRESS COVERAGE HAS BEEN

MINIMAL.

FCO PLEASE PASS PRIORITY TO PEKING.

SIR D. TRENCH

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

FILES:

H.K.D.

F.EASTERN D.

P.U.S.D.

I.R.D. NEWS D.

MR. VILFORD

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