TNAG-0292-FCO40-328-Disturbances-in-Hong-Kong-bomb-attacks-and-threats-1971 — Page 134

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CONFIDENTIAL

S.H. A. 's Assessment of Public Reaction

to the "elease of Confrontation Prisoners

on 27th March, 1971

As in the case of the release of prisoners

at the end of February there has been little spontaneous

comment, and again we have made discrcet enquiries in

all districts. The interest in this latest release

appears to be even less than a month ago.

The majority of those who expressed an opinion,

and these were the more educated of our contacts, favoured

the move as a further step towards the improvement of

Sino-British relations and thus to the benefit of Hong

Kong.

3.

Adverse criticism came from a smaller group

of people who saw no reason for the release since these

offenders had been dealt with in accordance with the cue

process of the law. Such leniency could well set an

unfortunate precedent for the future. Others in this

group felt that the released prisoners should be kept under close police supervision.

4.

There is no indication at all that the release

of these prisoners is in any way associated with the

bomb incidents.

Secretariat for Home Affairs

8th April, 1971.

CONFIDENTIAL