TNAG-0293-FCO40-329-Guidelines-for-the-Governor-of-Hong-Kong--Sir-Murray-MacLeho-1971 — Page 36

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stand firm against, or better still ignore, any half-

hearted moves by the Chinese to alter it. If the Chinese

started to press really hard we would have to reconsider

in the light of what we believed the implications of the

pressure were.

16. I have asked the Political Adviser in Hong Kong to be

ready to advise me, on my arrival, whether there is some

small gesture I could make to Leung Wai-lam, the Head of

NCNA, which would be seen as a concession but would not

advance his position to an extent that would alarm the

Hong Kong establishment. Unfortunately, he has the reputa-

tion of being an implacable enemy of the Hong Kong

Government and I fear that little would be gained, and

much might be lost, by opening up a personal if unofficial

dialogue with him.

Confrontation prisoners

17. Chou En-lai has picked this out as the major item of

interest to him in Hong Kong at present. In view of the

numbers released since he spoke to Mr Denson for the time

being we can point to a generous response.

But it appears

from Sir Hugh Norman-Walker's letter of 13 September that

no further releases are likely in 1972 under present criteria

or procedures. My present inclination is not to accept

this, as failure to maintain momentum on this issue might

prejudice my entire governorship with Peking with all that

this would imply.

18. I realise the delicacy of this issue, particularly vis-

/a-vis

6.

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