TNAG-0217-FCO40-253-Detainees-and-prisoners-convicted-for-offences-during-the-di-1970 — Page 89

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Defensive Notes

You must relcase Arrediately all the patriotic compatriots

imprisoned in Houy Mann.

The prisoners convicted in 1967 were all tried in open

court according to the due process of law, and were given an

opportunity to defend themselves. All are eligible for full zomission. The Hong Kong Government aro about to make an

important gesture to improve rolations in the case of the four prisoners and it is now up to the Chinese Government to

match our efforts by the release of British subjects detained

in China, particularly i

and

The Chinese Government havo nade a major concession by the

premature release of

We have noted the release of

This is certainly

a step in the right direction.

We hope that it will be followed

by the early release of comer British subjects. The rolease

of

and

would be a suitable and welcome

gesture. At the same time I should point out that

was released only a short time before the completion of his full sentence, less the time he spent in detention before

sentence. If he had been given remission of one third of his

sentence, on the same basis as the prisoners in Hong Kong, he

would have been released several months earlier.

How many other cases aze under consideration?

At present I can only tell Mr. Ka that other cases are

under consideration.

If it is decided that they are eligible

for release, they will be released.

Far Eastern Department,

14 October, 1970.

CONFIDENTIAL

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