TNAG-0217-FCO40-253-Detainees-and-prisoners-convicted-for-offences-during-the-di-1970 — Page 41

CONFIDENTIAL

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QUESTION: WHAT ILLNESS WERE THE PRISONERS SUFFERING FROM? ANSWER: IT IS NOT NORMAL TO REVEAL THE PERSONAL MEDICAL HISTORIES

OF PRISONERS.

Q: HAS ANY ARRANGEMENT BEEN MADE WITH THE CPG TO EXCHANGE THESE FRISONERS FOR BRITONS AT PRESENT DETAINED IN CHINA? IF NOT SHOULD IT BE REGARDED AS A MOVE TO FURTHER IMPROVE SINO BRITISH

RELATIONS?

A: NO. THE RELEASE OF THESE PRISONERS IS BASED ON HUMANITARIAN

GROUNDS.

Q: WHEN WAS THE LAST PRISONER RELEASED UNDER SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES?

A: WONG NGAU-17 OCTOBER 1979

DETAILS:

WONG NGAU; AGE 61

DATE OF SENTENCE: 29:8:70

POSSESSION OF DANGEROUS DRUGS

SENTENCED TO 3 MONTHS IMPRISONMENT

(FCO PLEASE PAS PRIORITY TO PEKING)

SIR H. NORMAN-WALKER

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NEWS DEPT.

H.K. DEPT.

REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

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6.11.20