TNAG-0216-FCO40-252-Detainees-and-prisoners-convicted-for-offences-during-the-di-1970 — Page 95

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important if we hoped to attract a not entirely unfavourable Chinese reaction. I doubt whether the present moment is propitious when the Chinese are showing no particular interest in obtaining the release of the prisoners. It would be better to keep it up our sleeves until they return to the charge again as they undoubtedly will at some

future date.

I agree that we should continue to stimulate publicity but we must recognise that the British subjects are a less interesting item for the press now that Mr. Grey has been released. Our publicity campaign for the Martin and McBain cases was a flop. It is also worth considering whether we have reached the point of diminishing returns with the Chinese over negative publicity of this kind and should now concentrate on a more positive publicity

line. In this connexion it is perhaps worth considering whether we should not stimulate

articles which draw attention to our improved commercial relations, indicating at the same time our willingness to be helpful to the Chinese and hence evidence of our desire to improve Sino-British relations in general. This has its dangers I realise and could well provoke the opposite reaction in Britain from those who are keen to impose sanctions on the Chinese. Nevertheless it

is the one area in which we are useful to the

Chinese and although one must not exaggerate the leverage which we obtain from this there would seem no harm in the point being underlined in

publicity.

e

(c) The letter from Mr. Maddocks (attached) on the

activities of the Board of Review is unhelpful. The Board's deliberations show no sign of any particular urgency to resolving this problem. It sat only three times since July. On the last two

occasions it failed to recommend any of the

prisoners in whom we are interested for release. The procedure seems inflexible and apart from supporting Mr. Denson's suggestion that offenders who have health problems might be considered for release I cannot see any way of getting round its rather rigid terms of reference. I should be grateful for Hong Kong Department's views on this. It is worth pointing out however, that the courts

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