fco-21-1025-release-of-prisoners-convicted-for-offences-during-confrontation-with-communists-in-1967-1968-in-hong-kong — Page 4

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UNCLASSIFIED

·

N+

rat in!

1972

TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELEGRAM NO-1891 OF 13 NOVEMBER/INFO ROUTINE

HONG KONG.

COUNSELLOR'S TELEGRAM NO 1272 OF 10 NOVEMBER.

I AGREE AND HAVE NO FURTHER COMMENTS.

ADDI S

FILES

FED

HKIOD

FUSD

MR WILFORD SIR E NORRIS STR D WATSON

·

I

(65.)

1

EDIATE

PHER CAT A

FM PEKING 1304352

SECRET

SECRET

N

TOP COPY

1972

TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELEGRAM NO 1289 OF 13 NOVEMBER INFO IMMEDIATE HONG
KONG ( PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR).

REFERENCE OUR TEL 1272.

PARAGRAPH 1 PLEASE AMEND TO READ,.... AND AGREE THAT WE SHOULD

ANNOUNCE THIS AS A

ADDIS

FILES

FED

HKIOD

FUSD

MR WILFORD SIR E NORRIS SIR D WATSON

UNILATERAL ETC.............

SECRET

ہوتا

IMMEDIATE

·

SECRET

CYPHER CAT A

PEKING 1008002

SECRET

1972

TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 1272 OF 10 NOVEMBER INFO IMM TO HONG KONG
(PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR)

FROM MORGAN.

fir

YOUR TELEGRAM NO 1016: CONFRONTATION PRISONERS.

RECEIVED IN REGISTAY IN- 15. M

E

1. WHILST 1 HAVE SOME SYMPATHY WITH THE VIEW THAT THE FOUR

REALLY SERIOUS OFFENDERS SHOULD PAY A PROPER PENALTY FOR THEIR

CRIMES 1 AM CONCERNED THAT, BY POSTPONING A DECISION ABOUT THEIR CASES,
WE MAY ULTIMATELY BE FORCED INTO A POSITION WHERE WE HAVE TO DISCUSS
SWAPPING THE THREE BRITISH DETAINEES, WHO ARE CERTAINLY UNDESERVING BUT
NONETHELESS CONTINUE TO EVOKE A

CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PRESS INTEREST, FOR THE FOUR REMAINING CONFRONTATION
PRISONERS IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THE CHINESE

MIGHT TRY TO BARGAIN FOR LOCAL RELEASE RATHER THAN DEPORTATION.

I CERTAINLY THINK THAT WE SHOULD TRY ON THE CHINESE THE SUGGESTION

ANNOUNCE IN THE GOVERNOR'S PARAGRAPH 4 AND AGREE THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE

N

THIS AS A UNILATERAL ACT AND WITHOUT IN ANY WAY ASSOCIATING

IT EITHER WITH CHOU EN-LAI'S REMARKS OR WITH THE THREE BRITISH

DETAINEES, BUT IF THE CHINESE MERELY TAKE NOTE AND DO NOT

THEN RELEASE THE BRITISH DETAINEES I SUGGEST THAT WE SHOULD SERIOUSLY
CONSIDER 'DEPORTATION OF THE FOUR REMAINING PRISONERS WITHIN THE NEXT
SIX MONTHS AS A UNILATERAL ACT AND

ON LINES OF CHINESE DEPORTATION OF THE FARMER BROTHERS IE THAT HAVING
TAKEN OUR DECISION WE SHOULD GIVE THE CHINESE 24 HOURS

FORMAL NOTICE AND PRESENT THE FOUR PRISONERS AT THE BORDER THE

FOLLOWING DAY.

2. THE AMBASSADOR, WHO IS AT PRESENT IN CANTON, MAY WISH TO

COMMENT FURTHER ON HIS RETURN ON MONDAY.

ADDI S

FILES

FED

HKTOD

MR WILFORD

PUSD

SIR E NORRIS SIR D WATSON

SECRET

PRIORITY EN CLAIR

FM F C O

#81950 Z

Adoo dol

(FE) 14

UNICLASSIFIED

TO PRIORITY PEKİNG TELNO 1016 OF 8 NOVEMBER, 1972) INFO ROUTINE TO
GOVERNOR HONG KONG.

HONG KONG TELNO. 1037.

İF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL TO HAVE THEM BEFORE THE
END OF THE WEEK.

DOUGLAS HOME

FILES

FED

HXFOD

PUSO

VR WILFORD

SIR E NORRIS

S.RD WATSON

-

4/1/3

A

Registry No.

DEPARTMENT

Fa

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secret

Secret

Confidencial

Restricted

Unclassified

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

PRIORITY MARKINGS

(Date)

Despatched

Flash Immediata Priority Routine

Date and time (G.M.T.) teleham should

reach addpace(s).

Au

ויזזיוחיזו

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

En Clair. Code Cypher

Draft Telegram to:-

No. 1016..

Date) 8/11

And to:-

[Security classification]

-if any

f Privacy marking

-if any

[Codeword-if any]

Addressed to,

telegram No..

And to

M

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...

-4/e 0810502

PU¬¬----------------‍-ınım-ı-----------------min

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Pelry 1016

KOVA PILLEAUTO

...(date)...

Governor Hong Kong.

--- ..-.--|

repeated for information to

Saving to

IL

-----..................IP

LJ LI

... - Owlmı

------------------- --‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒

ILI-FI ---- ---- --- -- - 1.

Reped to:-

4.

Hong Kong telegram No 1037

have

comments

you

any

we should be grateful

to have them

before the end of the week.

Saving to:-

Distribution:-

File:

FED

болн

Puss

The Wilford

C. E. Nors

Copies To:- ́& Phasm

حام

CYPHER/CAT A

SECRET

HƯNG KONG Q345457

SECRET

TO ROUTINE F C O TELKO 1837 OF 8TH NOVEMBER, 1972, INFO ROUTINE

PEKING.

REGLARY:

CONFRONTATION PRISOMERS.

Fax 141

61

I PROMISED TO CONSIDER WHAT ROOM WE HAVE, FOR MANOEUVRE.

-

2. I THINK WE WERE AGREED THAT THE CHINESE INTEREST IN THE PRISONERS

WAS PROBABLY LARGELY A RESPONSE TO YOUR ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE

BRITISH DETAINEES IN CHINA THEY WOULD RELEASE THE LATTER IF WE

RELEASED THE FORMER, OR ALTERNATIVELY THEY WOULD COMPLAIN SO LONG AS WE
DID, WHILE THE BRITISH DETAINEES ARE SINGULARLY

UNDESERVING, TO GET THEM OUT WOULD BE A SMALL THING OUT OF THE WAY (IN
BOTH PARLIAMENTARY AND ANGLO-CHINESE TURKS) AND YOU

ASKED ME WHAT WE COULD DO.

3. IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO BOTH OURSELVES AND THE CHINESE HAVE

KEPT THIS PROBLEM OF THE CONFRONTATION PRISONERS AND THE UNOBTRUSIVE.

REDUCTION OF ITS SIZE OUT OF THE HEADLINES. BUT FOLLOWING THE

PRESS CONFERENCES IN PEKING AND HERE THERE HAS NOW BEEN SOME SHARP

CRITICISM HERE OF THE PRINCIPLE OF A SWAP. OTHER THINGS BEING

EQUAL THEREFORE | WOULD PREFER TO STAND ON THE TERMS SET OUT IN 52 MY
LETTER TO ILFORD OF GTI JULY, 1.E. 4 MORE RELEASES UP TO NEXT

APRIL, THE CHINESE TO BE NOTIFIED AS EACH RELEASE OCCURS, AND IF, AND
ONLY IF, THE CHINESE THEN PRESS US ABOUT THE REMAINING 4 (FOR WHOM ANY
CLEMENCY WOULD DE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT) TO OFFER

DEPORT THEM TO CHINA,

1. HOWEVER, IF THIS WOULD HELP THE BRITONS WE COULD AGREE TO

BUNCH! THE RELEASES SO THAT ALL & WOULD BE OUT BEFORE CHINESE

NEW YEAR, 1.E. 4TH FEBRUARY, AND THE CHINESE COULD BE INFORMED NOW THAT
THIS WOULD HAPPEN.

TO

.

15.

SECRET

+

+

SECRET

5. I WOULD PREFER THIS TO BE A UNILATERAL AND NOT A CONDITIONAL

ACT. THIS 13 BOTH TO AVOID A HAGGLE, AND TO AVOID ANYTHING THAT

COULD BE REPRESENTED AS A SWAP.

5. IF THE CHINESE ENQUIRED ABOUT THE REMAINING 4,

SUGGEST CUR INITIAL RESPONSE SHOULD BE THAT THESE MEN WERE ALL

CONVICTED FOR PARTICULARLY SERIOUS CRIMES WHICH

INVOLVED KILLING OR SERIOUSLY WOUNDING, AND THE QUESTION OF

CLEMENCY DOES NOT ARISE FOR THE TIME BEING.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

FED

EKIOD

CONS D

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

PS/MR ROYLE

SIR E NORRIS

NEWS D PS

PS/MR AMERY

SIR D WATSON MR WILFORD MR D A SCOTT

-2-

SECRET

-

+

IMMEDIATE

CYPHER CAT A

EM PEKING #20309.Z

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

1972

RECEIVED IN

TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 1285 OF 2 NOVEMBER INFO IMMEDIATE 50 HONG KONG
(PERSONAL

5

הדגל

MY TELNO 1232. CONFRONTATION PRISONERS AND BRITISH DETAINEES. AT
SECRETARY OF STATE'S MEETING WITH CHOU EN-LAI ON

1 NOVEMBER CHOU SAID THAT HE INTENDED TO RELEASE THE DETAINEES. HE DID
NOT TIE THEIR RELEASE TO THOSE OF THE CONFRONTATION PRISONERS. HE
EXPRESSED THE HOPE, HOWEVER, THAT THE PROBLEM OF THE LATTER COULD BE
RESOLVED. SECRETARY OF STATE SAID THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO DISCUSS THE
QUESTION WITH THE GOVERNOR

AND THAT THERE WERE DIFFICULTIES IN DOING SO.

2. SINCE THE MEETING HEAD OF INFORMATION DEPT AT MFA

HAS SPOKEN TO LEAHY ABOUT WHAT PRESS LINE SHOULD BE TAKEN. FROM THIS IT
EMERGED THAT CHINA DO NOT INTEND ACTUALLY TO MAKE RELEASES UNTIL THEY
SEE SOME ACTION ON OUR PART. THIS IS LESS

SATISFACTORY.

3. THE AGREED PRESS LINE IS

THE CASE OF DETAINEES WAS

RAISED BY S OF S AND ALSO BY PUS IN THE TALKS WHICH HE HAD WITH MR
CHANG....THE CHINESE CONFIRMED THAT THEY ARE REVIEWING THESE CASES AND S
OF S HOPES THAT WITH THE IMPROVEMENT IN OUR

RELATIONS MATTERS OF THIS KIND CAN BE PESOLVED.

ADDIS

FILES

FED

HKIOD

NEWS D

PS

PS TO MR GODBER

PS TO MR ROYLE

PS TO PUS

SIR S CRAWFORD

SIR E NORRIS

SIR D WATSON MR D A SCOTT

FFFFF

CONFIDENTIAL

+

бо

it hang

nang

Cirector of Toncular apartzent

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

R

enter Mr Da

натоя

R. Compton

6/11

17,

Das's Kelly

A

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For 14

You will wish to be Azeme that na

contin ing "206095 of reviez f clan sonte ses in

f thone

a number of further reduations have been mide in the se-tenans af
mrisoners sentenéed in 1767. me a the *rm to deglaione ma that a prízos
e van relatend on 15 vhcae earliest prospective data

25 Jamary 1975; and a forther 9 october xhoge earliest

bear

3-mm 1372.

The process of ravies

Jato

ent nga by man

brand of seriow will senti-us, na with mpani rea

I take this opportunity to be very

orr

Blind copies to:

Far Eastern Dept PCO

Political Adviser's Office Hong Kong

1

+

IMMEDIATE

CYPHER CAT A

FM PEKING #310152

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

1972

TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELEGRAM NO 1230 OF 3 NOVEMBER/INFO IMMEDIATE GOVERNOR
HONG KONG.

MY TELEGRAM NO 1202.

Y

38

1. LAST SENTENCE DOES NOT REPRESENT MY VIEWS. I DO NOT AT ALL EXCLUDE
THE POSSIBILITY OF THE CHINESE AGREEING TO EXPULSION OF THE
CONFRONTATION PRISONERS ON CONDITION OF THEIR RESTRICTED RESIDENCE IN
CHINA. MY IMPRESSION IS THAT CHANG'S COMMENT ON EXPULSION WAS DIRECTED
AT THE QUESTION OF THE BRITISH DETAINEES,

ADDI S

FILES

FED

HKIOD

NEWS D

PS

PS TO PUS

PS TO MR ROYLE SIR S CRAWFORD SIR E NORRIS

SIR D WATSON MR D A SCOTT

MR WILFORD

CONFIDENTIAL

J

IMMEDIATE

CYPHER CAT A

FM PEKING Ø18930Z

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

1972

TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 1272 OF 1 NOVEMBER AND TO IMMEDIATE

HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR,

CONFRONTATION PRISONERS.

AT A MEETING OF OFFICIALS ON 31 OCTOBER CHANG WEN-CHIN, IN THE CONTEXT
OF WHAT THE S OF S HAD SAID AT THE MINISTERIAL MEETING THAT MORNING
ABOUT BRITISH DETAINEES, BROUGHT UP THE QUESTION OF CONFRONTATION
PRISONERS. HE SAID THAT HE DID NOT

WISH TO GO OVER OLD GROUND ABOUT THE SENTENCES OF THE COURTS

OR OF THE TRIALS THEMSELVES, BUT PROPOSED THAT THIS MATTER AND THAT OF
THE DETAINEES SHOULD BE SETTLED IN THE VERY NEAR

FUTURE. THE INFERENCE WAS THAT THE CONFRONTATION PRISONERS

SHOULD BE RELEASED IN EXCHANGE FOR THE DETAINEES. SIR D. GREENHILL AFTER
STRESSING THAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE TWO CASES WERE QUITE DIFFERENT
SAID THAT HE COULD GIVE NO ANSWER BUT ONLY REPORT THE PROPOSITION, HE
ENQUIRED, HOWEVER, WHETHER

WHEN CHANG SPOKE OF ''RELEASE'' HE MEANT IN THE COUNTRY IN

WHICH THEY WERE HELD OR WHETHER EXPULSION WOULD BE INVOLVED. (HE HAD IN
MIND THE POSSIBILITY THAT THIS WAS A HINT THAT CONFRONTATION PRISONERS
MIGHT BE ACCEPTED INTO CHINA IF RELEASED). CHANG SAID THAT HE DID NOT
MEAN EXPULSION AND WHEN PRESSED

SAID THAT HE DID NOT EXCLUDE THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME OF OUR

DETAINEES BEING ALLOWED TO STAY IN CHINA.

2. CHANG STRESSED THAT HIS PROPOSAL WAS MADE IN THE

CONTEXT OF IMPROVING SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS AND OF THE S OF S'S VISIT TO
PEKING. IT WAS THE MOMENT TO GET RID OF THIS RUNNING

SORE IN OUR RELATIONS.

13.

CONFIDENTIAL

(5)

r

-

CONFIDENTIAL

3. S OF S WILL WISH TO DISCUSS THE CASES WITH THE GOVERNOR WHEN IN HONG
KONG, A DIRECT SWAP OF THIS KIND IS OBVIOUSLY OPEN TO GRAVE OBJECTION
UNLESS THE CHINESE WERE TO ACCEPT THE PRISONERS INTO CHINA AND TO
GUARANTEE THAT EXCLUSION FROM THE COLONY TILL THEIR SENTENCES HAD
EXPIRED. EVEN IF THE MEN CONCERNED WERE ALL WILLING TO GO TO CHINA, ON
WHICH THERE IS NO CERTAINTY, THE CHINESE GOVT WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY NOT
ACCEPT THIS CONDITION.

ADDI S

FILES

FED

HKICD

NEWS D FS

PS/PUS

SIR S CRAWFORD SIR E NORRIS SIR D WATSON MR D A SCOTT PS/MR ROYLE

.2

CONFIDENTIAL

PRIORITY

EN CLAIR

J

FM

HONG KONG 230836Z

OPY

lat

UNCLASSIFIED

TO PRIORITY PEKING TELNO 121 OF 23RD OCTOBER, 1972. INFO ROUTINE F C 0.

YOUR TELEGRAM NO 79, [CONFRONTATION PRISONERS)

1. PARA. 1 CONFIRMED.

■ ↑

2, PARA 2 : NOTED.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

FED

HKI OD

CONSULAR DEPT P.S./MR ROYLE MR WILFORD

ماک

L

PRIORITY CYPHER CAT A

CONFIDENTIAL

-

153

FM PEKING 299702Z

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIV

1972

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO 79 OF 20 OCTOBER INFO

PRIORITY FCO.

CONFRONTATION PRISONERS,

1.

PARAGRAPH 3 OF YOUR TELEGRAM NO 944 TO FCO.

FEH

FEH 14!!

GRATEFUL FOR CONFIRMATION THAT PRISONERS CONCERNED ARE YAU WAI AND LEUNG
PUN (YOUR LETTER SCR 7/3371/68 11 OF 6 JULY TO WILFORD).

2.

IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU COULD CONTINUE SENDING US ADVANCE
CONFIRMATION OF RELEASES SO THAT WE CAN FULFIL ASSURANCES GIVEN BY MR
ROYLE TO CH'IAO KUAN-HUA (MY TELEGRAM NO 732 TO FCO) BY INFORMING THE
CHINESE.

3. CONSULAR DEPARTMENT RAISED THE QUESTION OF CONFRONTATION PRISONERS
WITH US ONCE AGAIN DURING DISCUSSION OF THE FARMER DEPORTATION BUT ONLY
IN FAIRLY MILD AND GENERAL TERMS.

ADDIS

FILES:

HKIOD

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

FED

PUSD

SEAD

N AN DEPT

EESD

DEFENCE DEPT

PS TO MR ROYLE

PRIVATE SECRETARY

PS TO PUS

SIR S CRAWFORD

SIR T BRIMELOW

NR ROSE

KR WILFORD

CONFIDENTIAL

ہو

BRITISH MBASSY

ELING

19 July 1972

54

îr Chang Tuan-ming Director

Consular Department

Kinistry of Foreign Affairs People's Republic of Chine

4/8

X

2017

Mitteil MiDay 17 HKI O Dept. (1 418

R.E.

You will wish to be aware that as a part of the

continuing prosess of review of prison sentences in Hong Kong, a
reduction has been made in the sentence of a prisoner sentenced in 1967.

As a result ons prisoner whose prospective date of release was
originally 3 February 1973 was released on 14 July.

The process of review of sentences by the arison Board of Review will
continue, as will normal releases.

I take this opportunity to convey to you sy best

wishes.

ENTO FE

28/7

blind copy to:

RM Evens E8q, FER,FCC

RJ Stratton Eaq, Hong Kong

MX Morgan

PRIORITY

CONFIDENTIAL

53

Ꮧ0 40f

CYPHER CAT A

FM PEKING 219745Z

CONFIDENTIAL

1

TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 732 OF 21 JULY INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG. HONG KONG
TELNO 66 OF 12 JULY TO PEKING: CONFRONTATION PRISONERS,

1. IN VIEW OF ASSURANCES GIVEN BY MR ROYLE TO MR CHIAO KUAN-HUA (PARA 15
OF RECORD A OF CONVERSATION) I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO CONTINUE TO INFORM
THE MFA OF RELEASES. THEREFORE WHEN CALLING ON DEPUTY HEAD OF CONSULAR
DEPARTMENT, MFA, ON OTHER BUSINESS ON 19 JULY, COUNSELLOR HANDED HIM A
LETTER ADDRESSED TO HEAD OF CONSULAR DEPARTMENT (CHANG TSAN-MING)
INFORMING HIM IN USUAL TERMS OF EARLY RELEASE OF ONE PRISONER (CHAN YIK)
AS A RESULT OF LATEST BOARD OF REVIEW.

ADDIS

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION:

FED

HKIOD

IRD

NEWS DEPT

CONFIDENTIAL

+

DWNFO 128/21

LIM NR 499/21

PP FCO

RR HONG KONG

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