TNAG-0216-FCO40-252-Detainees-and-prisoners-convicted-for-offences-during-the-di-1970 — Page 54

"CONFIDEN

subjects detained in China. As far as the prisoners in Hong Kong

were concerned, our understanding was that all of the prisoners

mentioned had received remission of sentence. He undertook to

clarify the matter. Mr. Ma might like to know that by 31 July

there would only be 89 prisoners in Hong Kong whom Mr. Ma described

€9

as "patriotic compatriots". He would like Mr. Ma to see that the

releases were going forward.

8. Mr. Morgan went on to say that during their interview on

2 July he had mentioned to Mr. Ma the cases of the other six British

subjects detained in China. When Mr. Royle subsequently spoke to

Mr. Ma at the Mongolian reception, he described Parliamentary

interest in the cases of

and

in particular.

Mr. Morgan asked whether, when he reported his present conversation

to Mr. Royle, he would be able to tell him anything new about those

two cases.

9. Mr. Ma said that according to his information, what Mr. Morgan

had said about the early releases of over 20 patriotic compatriots

was not accurate. None of these had been released before the end

of their sentence. Mr. Ma said that as far as other British law-

breakers in China were concerned, the Chinese authorities were

dealing with their cases in accordance with Chinese law and on the

merits of their individual cases.

10. Mr. Morgan said that provided Mr. Ma had no objection he would

tell News Department in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office that Mr. Ma had informed the British Government of the impending release

of

and that Mr. Morgan had taken the opportunity to enquire

about the other six detainees.

CONFIDENTIAL

3

/11.