TNAG-0217-FCO40-253-Detainees-and-prisoners-convicted-for-offences-during-the-di-1970 — Page 95

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CYPHER CAT A

CONFIDENTIAL

AMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TO

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELEGRAM NUMBER 799

14 OCTOBER 1978

CONFIDENTIAL 140325Z

ADDRESSED TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TELEGRAM

NUMBER 769 OF 14 OCTOBER 1970 REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING

AND WASHINGTON

MY TELEGRAM NUMBER 704.

CONFRONTATION PRISONERS.

! HOPE IT IS CLEAR THAT IT WOULD BE VERY UNFORTUNATE INDEED IF THESE RELEASES WERE IN ANY WAY LINKED PUBLICLY WITH SINO-

BRITISH RELATIONS, EITHER HERE OR IN THE U.K.

2. THE LINE WE SHALL TAKE PUBLICLY HERE, AND STICK TO, IS THAT THESE PRISONERS WERE RELEASED IN A PERFECTLY NORMAL MANNER, IN THE LIGHT OF THE GENERAL CRITERIA UNDER WHICH CASES SUCH

AS THIS ARE CONSIDERED: AND THE FACT THAT THESE WERE CONFRONTATION

PRISONERS IS TOTALLY IRRELEVANT.

3. INFORMATION SERVICES WILL BE SENDING AN ADVANCE COPY OF LOCAL PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT AND MATERIAL FOR SUPPLEMENTARY PRESS ENQUIRIES

TO NEWS DEPARTMENT.

(FCO PLEASE PASS IMMEDIATE TO PEKING AND WASHINGTON)

SIR D TRENCH

/REPEATED AS REQUESTED/

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

поли Beday

NNNNN

H.K. DEPT.

F.E.D.

NEWS DEPT.

G.I.P.D.

P.U.S.D.

1.R.D.

E.E.S.D.

RES. D. (F.E. SECT.)

RES. D. (AMER.SECT. RES. D. (SOV. SECT.)

FED an

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No.51

H+KK1/12

CONFIDENTIAL

deding will Mr. Pl.

In che app fel.

En.

い

19.