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conceivably connect them to our export possibilities. After
hints to me by the Chargé d'Affaires (paragraph 5 of my letter
of 17 December to John Denson) that they intended to demonstrate
the indignation of relatives in Hong Kong, letters from rela-
tives have started to appear in the last few days in the
communist press in Hong Kong. If the Chinese see themselves
forced to mount a full campaign, tension could increase
disproportionately.
The Communists are at present avoiding
"clashes with the Hong Kong Government.
Provided it were
possible to remove the obstacle of the confrontation prisoners,
it should be possible, within the ambit of Chinese policy, to
improve links in fields of advantage to the Colony. It is
only if friendly and workmanlike contacts can be developed
that the future of the Colony can eventually be discussed.
Ideally all the remaining prisoners should be granted
full remission.
6.
It is most unlikely that the Governor would
agree to this. We have this year been able to persuade him
to release 6 sick prisoners and he has recently also agreed
to consider releasing some 5 female prisoners. This would
not be regarded by the Chinese as an adequate gesture.
Mr. Wilford's submission of 22 September referred to the
possibility of a review of exemplary sentences.
The draft
telegram leaves it open to the Governor to consider in which
category the releases should fall. I would hope that the
Governor would find himself able to agree to the release now
of well over half and that the remainder of the prisoners
should be released within the next year. We recognise that
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this is less than the Chinese are asking, but they should
accept it as an earnest of our good intentions.
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