TNAG-0217-FCO40-253-Detainees-and-prisoners-convicted-for-offences-during-the-di-1970 — Page 87

MR. MA'S CALL ON SIR STANLEY TOMLINSON

IN OCP0DPR AT 4 P.M.

Talking Points

When Sir Alec Douglas-omo received Mr. Ma on 5 August

ho roaffi:mmed the British Government's desire for a continued improvement in our reletious. This remains our intenticu, and we welcome the discussions which Mr. Morgan had in Peking. We hope that the joint civil aviation and machine tools

delegation had a successful visit.

2. When discussing ways of improving our relations, Mr. Ma has ofton raised the question of prisoners in Hong Kong serving sentences for offences committed in 1967. He has said that

we must take positive steps in this matter. Since 1967 the overwhelming majority of thesisoners have been released and, with one small exception, all have been granted full remission of one third of their sentence. This steady rate of releases month by month is convincing evidence of our desire to improve relations.

3. I should now like to inform Mr. Na in advance that the Hong Kong Government has decided to release four prisoners on 16 October, a considerable time before the completion of their sentences. fheir names are:

(due for release in July 1971)

( due for reloase in October 1973) (due for relase in March 1973)

un (due for release in August 1974).

CONFIDENTIAL

/Those