TNAG-0216-FCO40-252-Detainees-and-prisoners-convicted-for-offences-during-the-di-1970 — Page 65

35

CONFIDENTIAL

Far Eastern Department

29 June, 1970

Confrontation Prisoners

The Chinese consistently show interest in the rate of release of confrontation prisoners. You will recall that Mr. Ma raised this question with John Morgan when he came to dinner on 23 Apríl (Morgan's letter FEC 3/548/1 of 7 May to Denson) Next time Mr. Ma mentions this point it would be useful to be able to tell him how many prisoners have been released since Morgan last spoke to him. We already have the quarterly breakdown of forthcoming releases (assuming full remission) prepared in Hong Kong in November last year, but for present purposes we really need a monthly list and should be extremely grateful if you could let us have one.

2. I notice that there is a slight difference between the quarterly list and the figures given in Hong Kong telegram No. 183. The list shows 116 prisoners still in detention at the end of the first quarter of 1970, while the telegram says 115. We assume that the later figure is more accurate and this is the one we use in our briefs. However, we should be grateful if you would confirm this point.

32

C. J. Howells, Esq.,

HONG KONG.

(L. V. Appleyard)

Copy to:

J. N. Allan, Esq., PEKING.

Please Blu 2 weeks

wt%.

Pine Blu 2 weeks

witos),

Dep

30/6.

CONFIDENTIAL