TNAG-0217-FCO40-253-Detainees-and-prisoners-convicted-for-offences-during-the-di-1970 — Page 74

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6. Mr. Ma said that he very much appreciated Sir Stanley's

assurances that we wished to improve relations. He

welcomed the steps which the Hong Kong Government were

about to take to release four prisoners.

+

However Sir

Stanley must be aware that about eighty patriotic

compatriots were still being kept in prison in Hong Kong.

Four out of eighty was a very small number. He hoped the

British Government would give further consideration to

this question, and would take even more positive steps by

immediately releasing the patriotic compatriots. This

would assist the Chinese in taking further steps to

improve relations.

7. Sir Stanley Tomlinson said that all those prisoners

convicted in Hong Kong had been tried in open court, and

had been given an opportunity to defend themselves in

accordance with our legal system. They were all eligible

for normal remission. Mr. Ma could not fail to notice

that one of those about to be freed was not due for release

for almost another four years.

8. Mr. Ma replied that this point had been discussed

many times.

He had made clear the Chinese Government's

position. All the patriotic compatriots were innocent

and their imprisonment was totally unjustified. The

British Government should take even more positive steps

to release them immediately or to reduce their sentences.

9. Sir Stanley Tomlinson said that he had taken careful

note of what Mr. Ma had said, and he hoped that Mr. Ma

would take equally careful note of what he had said.

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/Mr. Ma