TNAG-2360-FCO40-3431-Visit-by-John-Major--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Hong-Kong--Septem-1991 — Page 73

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INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

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PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT: HONG KONG RESIDENTS DETAINED IN CHINA.

1.

WE SEE NO HARM IN RAISING THESE CASES AGAIN WITH THE CHINESE IN THE RUN UP TO THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT. ONE OF THE FOUR, LAU SANCHING, HAS BEEN IMPRISONED IN GUANGDONG SERVING A 10-YEAR SENTENCE SINCE DECEMBER 1981. THOUGH WE WOULD NOT RATE THE CHANCES HIGHLY THE CHINESE MIGHT CONCEIVABLY RELEASE HIM A FEW

MONTHS EARLY ON REMISSION.

2. IF THIS PRODUCES NOTHING IT WOULD ALSO BE POSSIBLE FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO RAISE THE CASES AGAIN AS A FOLLOW-UP TO HIS VISIT IN APRIL, ASKING WHETHER ANY RECONSIDERATION OF THE

CASES HAS BEEN UNDERTAKEN.

MCLAREN.

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