TNAG-2604-FCO40-3792-Detention-of-Hong-Kong-residents-in-China-1992 — Page 40

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MDLIAN 8741

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FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCOLN

TELNO 1059

OF 14110OZ APRIL 92

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HKD 015/1

MBCEIVED IN REGISTRY

15 APR 1992

DESK OFFICER

NIDE

CLISTAY

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AND TO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

TOP COPY Q DIST

HONG KONG RESIDENTS DETAINED IN CHINA:

1. JOHN KAMM, FORMERLY PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN HONG KONG HAS TOLD US THAT HE HAD RECENTLY BEEN TOLD THAT THE TWO LIS MIGHT SOON BE RELEASED.

2.

ON A RECENT VISIT TO PEKING KAMM MET OFFICIALS FROM THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE, MINISTRY OF PUBLIC SECURITY, SUPREME PEOPLE'S PROCURATORATE AND SUPREME PEOPLE'S COURT. THEY TOLD HIM

THAT THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE WERE CONSIDERING RELEASING THE TWO

LIS EARLY AND THAT THE MATTER SHOULD BE RESOLVED SOON.

3.

THE ASSISTANT POLITICAL ADVISER CALLED IN CHEN GUOPING OF

NCNA THIS AFTERNOON AND BRIEFED HIM ON KAMM'S VISIT. MOAKES SAID

THAT THE EARLY RELEASE OF THE TWO LIS WOULD BE WELCOMED IN HONG

KONG AND ASKED CHEN TO SEE IF HE COULD VERIFY THE STORY. CHEN AGREED TO FIND OUT WHAT HE COULD. HE COMMENTED THAT KAMM'S SOURCES WERE USUALLY ACCURATE.

COMMENT

THE TWO LIS ARE THE LAST HONG KONG RESIDENTS DETAINED IN THE AFTERMATH OF JUNE 4. WE CONTINUE TO RECEIVE LETTERS ABOUT THEM BOTH LOCALLY AND FROM OVERSEAS GROUPS SUCH AS AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL. ON PAST PERFORMANCE AN APPROACH TO NCNA ALONE IS UNLIKELY TO ACHIEVE ANYTHING. IF YOU AND PEKING AGREE, WE THINK IT WOULD BE USEFUL IF PEKING COULD ALSO FOLLOW UP WITH THE MFA.

WILSON

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