TNAG-0217-FCO40-253-Detainees-and-prisoners-convicted-for-offences-during-the-di-1970 — Page 15

CYPHER CAT/A

MEDIATA. CONFIDENTIAL

IMMEDIATE PEKING

TELEGRAM NUMBER 843

TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

22 DECEMBER 1970

42

CONFIDENTIAL 2208072

ADDRESSED TO FCO TELNO 843 OF 22 DECEMBER

RFI HONG KONG

MIPT.

TOP COPY

QUOTE AMONG THE PATRIOTIC CHINESE COMPATRIOTS WHO WERE UN- WARRANTEDLY ARRESTED AND SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT BY THE BRITISH

AUTHORITIES IN HONG KONG IN 1967, 74 ARE STILL IN PRISON

NOW. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS ON MANY OCCASIONS MADE REPRE-

SENTATIONS TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, DEMANDING A SPEEDY RELEASE OF ALL THESE INNOCENT PATRIOTIC CHINESE. BUT REGRETABLY. THEY ARE STILL KEPT IN JAIL UNWARRANTEDLY. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT

EXPRESSES GRAVE CONCERN OVER THEIR PLIGHT. IT SHOULD BE POINTED OUT THAT THE CONTINUED IMPRISONMENT OF THESE PEOPLE

} CONSTITUTES A SERIOUS OBSTACLE TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF RELATIONS

BETWEEN CHINA AND BRITAIN. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HOPES THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE MEASURES TO SPEEDILY RELEASE ALL THESE 74 PATRIOTIC CHINESE COMPATRIOTS STILL IN PRISON IN HONG KONG., SO AS TO REMOVE OBSTACLES TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF SINO-BRITISH

RELATIONS UNQUOTE.

MR.

DENSON

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION:

F.E.D.

CONSULAR DEPT.

H.K.D.

NEWS DEPT

EcEchchi

CONFIDENTIAL

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