TNAG-2908-FCO40-4182-Detention-of-Hong-Kong-residents-in-China-1993 — Page 39

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APA(S)

CONFIDENTIAL 1/7 Woodrow RAD (FE)

Wys

for cofani

30/6

Chong Kwee Sung

PAO(C) 1/4731/49 PAO(C) 1/3371/86

20

Over lunch with Yang Youyong of NCNA on 25 June, I

raised the case of Chong Kwee Sung, the Hong Kong resident detained for almost two years in Zhengzhou, apparently without being charged. I referred to previous exchanges, most recently in April with NCNA, and earlier this month with the HKMAO in Peking (Peking Telno 763 refers).

2.

We

I told Yang that we had heard that Mr. Chong's daughter would be visiting Zhengzhou in the next few days. She had still had neither direct access to her father nor concrete information

about why and on what legal basis he was being detained. The Zhengzhou public security authorities had provided no information to us (despite the efforts, for which we were nevertheless grateful, of the NCNA and HKMAO). We were not concerned here with Mr. Chong's possible guilt or innocence. were simply asking for fundamental information about where he stood in relation to Chinese legal procedures. Had he been, or

would he shortly be charged? When would he be tried? Had due process been observed, with the necessary authorisations (which I believed had to come from the NPC) to allow his detention

without charge for more than 3 months? Without answers to these questions, it was hard not to presume that the Zhengzhou public security authorities were acting in a free-lance way, or perhaps even as agents of those with a grievance against Mr. Chong.

3.

Yang said he was aware of the case. But he seemed rather embarrassed. He did not demur when I said that the response from Zhengzhou had so far been inadequate; and that such cases did great damage to China's reputation. He undertook to press again for more information; and to pursue urgently my request for access for Mr. Chong's daughter on her forthcoming visit. But he promised nothing.

CONFIDENTIAL

HKCD GS/

R

01 JU: 1993