fco-21-194-internal-political-situation-in-hong-kong-disturbances-and-communist-agitation — Page 10

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29 thard. 16th

16th April, 1968

Mo Boyd 12 1975 pr. (343

закрыта

Thank you for your letter of 25th March (PEX/3) asking about the numbers
of confrontation prisoners still in custody in Hong Kong. Below is a
list giving numbers due for release in the next few years. I hesitate to
add that in addition to those listed there are three prisoners who are
under life sentence for bombing offences.

Release Dates of Prisoners due for Release. Ova * Stanley from 1/4/1968

Year

1968

1969

1970

1971

1972

1973

1974

Number due for Release

422

147

30

27

3

86

5

-|

20

4

I am sending a copy of this letter to James Murray in the Far Eastern
Department.

(T.A.K. Elliott)

P. Cradock həq., C.M.G.,

Office of the British

Chargé d'Affaires,

PEKING.

c.c. J. Murray Esq., C.M.G.

Far Eastern Department, Foreign Office.

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

354

Flag A

är. Vilkingom

Sir D. Amen

Mr. Samual

Sir D. hobill P.YS.

¡ RECEIVED IN

ARCHIV-3 No.31

7- MAY 1968

F&

FBI/I

HONG KONG

In the course of discussions which I had with the

Governor in Hong Kong last January, he expressed concern

lest, now that the campaign of violence had been dropped,

Whitehall would be only too happy to forget about Hong Kong

and sweep its problems under the carpet. I assured him I

had noticed no tendency whatsoever on the part of the Common-

wealth Office to do this, and that we in the Office were well

aware that there were no grounds for complacency.

He said,

however, that he was more concerned about other Departments

like the Board of Trade which, to judge from correspondence

which bis officers were receiving, seemed to take it that

everything in Hong Kong was now back to normal. I told him

that I would do my best to arrange for a formal communication

to him to the effect that H.K.G. were fully aware of the

continuing threat to Hong Kong and saw no grounds for complacency,

and for the distribution of this communication to the relevant

Departments in Whitehall.

·

6308

2. The Governor's despatch of 13 February reviewing develop-

ments since last June seemed to provide a suitable occasion,

and I proposed to the Commonwealth Office that in their reply

they should bear in mind my undertaking to the Governor.

The

/reply

CONFIDENTIAL

Flag

CONFIDENTIAL

- 2

(*349

reply (despatch HWB 13/7 of 16 April) was a long time in

preparation. But it does meet the requirement;

been given an appropriate distribution.

James Many

(James Murray)

1 Kay, 1968

and it has

These are

important despatches.

all

E

The most significant passage of perhaps in the Governor's last
paragraph,

which reminds

W

that the shadow of 1997

New Territories lease) is already falling

iend of

the yo

younger generation of Hong Kong

Chimese.

Denis Allen. Yr

рис

DrGreenhill 6/5

3

CONFIDENTIAL

6.6/5 pm.

353

CONFIDENTIAL

Japu 251+

Cypher/Cat A

PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno 347

CONFIDENTIAL

24 April 1968

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

25 APR 1968

FDIL!

343

Addressed to Hong Kong telegram No. 215 of 24 April Repeated for
information to Foreign Office

Political Adviser.

Grateful for an early reply to Cradock's letter PEK/3 of 25 March, In
particular grateful if you could telegraph details concerning two NCNA
prisoners and

dept possible information on other Communist prisoners in

summarized form.

Foreign Office please pass Hong Kong

Sir D. Hopson

[Repeated as requested]

FILES

F.O. F.E.D.

News Dept.

C.O. H.K. Dept.

News Dept.

S.A.D.

F.E. & P.D.

J.I.P.D. J.I.G.D. I.R.D.

FFFFF

CONFIDENTIAL

CYPHER CAT A

IMMEDIATE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELNO 678

CONFIDENTIAL

TO HONG KONG

A By No 51

+

22 APR 1968

FD1/1

18 APRIL 1968 (FED)

352

pa 24/4

CONFIDENTIAL.

ADDRESSED TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 678 OF 18 APRIL

REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING,

251 YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 491: PRISON VISITS,

WE ARE CONCERNED AT THE POSSIBILITY THAT, WERE N.C.N.A. TO SUCCEED IN
THEIR EVIDENT OBJECTIVE OF EMBROILING US IN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT PRISON
CONDITIONS IN HONG KONG, THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES IN PEKING MIGHT USE
THIS AS AN EXCUSE FOR FURTHER DELAY IN ACCESS TO

GREY.

+

2. WE LEAVE IT TO YOUR DISCRETION WHETHER YOU AGREE TO A FURTHER MEETING
WITH N.C.N.A., BUT THINK THAT AT ANY SUCH MEETING YOUR REPRESENTATIVE
SHOULD DO NO MORE THAN NOTE THEIR POINTS WITHOUT HOLDING OUT ANY
PROSPECT OF A REPLY.

CROSEC

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

7.0.

C.O.

F.E.D.

CONSULAR DEPT.

NEWS DEPT.

H.K.DEPT.

NNNNE

#CF

NEXI

REF

351

CONFIDENTIAL

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

8/4

17352

His

Registry No.

FED

DEPARTMENT

FD

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION PRIORITY 'MARKINGS

Top-écret

Emergency Immediate.

Confidential Restricted

Bh Clair.

[

Security classification

(Date)

Despat

* Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should

reach addressee(s)

(352

CONFIDENTIAL

- I

➖➖ILIU.

77H

Gode Cypher

Draft Telegram to:-

GOVERNOR HONG

Addressed to..

[Codeword-if any]

GOVERNOR, HONG KONG

No.

(Wale)

ZONG 678 1.814

telegram No.

678

I.

...(date)

mh

18/4

And to..........

repeated for information to

PEKING

And to:-

Saving to

A

Repeat to:-

PETING

√379

Saving to:-

c.o. concur

Depre

Distribution:- FE.D. Consular

Kuanta

H.K. (c.o)

Copies to:-

Your telegram No. 491: Prison Visite.

We are concerned at the possibility that,

were N.C.N.A. to succeed in their evident

objective of embroiling us in discussions about

prison conditions in Hong Kong, the Chinese

authorities in Peking might use this as an

excuse for further delay in access to Grey.

2. We leave it to your discretion whether you

agree to a further meeting with N.C.N.A., but

think that at any such meeting you should do no

more than note their points without holding out

any prospect of a reply.

A & More.

.

HEID 3/2

With the compliments of

COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

Nong Kong Wahl.

25

April 1908

LONDON, S.W.1.

I

CONFIDENTIAL

351

Cypher/Cat A

IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TO

RECEIVED IN

COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ARCHIVES No.31

23 APR 1968

Teino 491

18 April 1968

CONFIDENTIAL

Jano

FDi/i

18 April,

pe 24/4

Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No. 491 of

Repeated for information to Peking.

N.C.N.A. contacted P..'s office today requesting meeting tomorrow to
"raise several points arising after the official visits to Stanley and
Laichikok". In reply to our request for clarific- ation, they produced
the following four demands:

2.

(a) Patriotic prisoners at Stanley had been in "strict

isolated confinement" for 5 months.

This must cease.

(b) Women compatriots at Laichikok had recently been beaten up and
"seriously wounded" by other prisoners belonging to TRIAD societies. The
prison authorities must prevent such incidents and give immediate and
effective medical treatment to the injured. (See our telegram No. 471).

(c) Food at Stanley is inadequate and irregular. must be taken to
improve the supply of food.

Steps

They

(d) Compatriots' health has been "seriously affected" because

of isolated confinement and inadequate nutrition. must be given
effective medical treatment.

We said we would consider N.C.N.A.'s request for a meeting

but gave no undertaking to see them tomorrow.

No. 172.

Foreign Office please pass Immediate Peking as my telegram

Sir D. Trench

[Repetition to Peking referred for Departmental

decision"]

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

C.0.

H.K.Dept.. I. & G.D.

News Dept..

*LF

F.0.

F.E.D.

352

J.I.P.G.D.

NNNNN

J.I.R.D.

O.L.A.

News Dept.

CONFIDENTIAL

:

:

7

·

I

·

RELIVED IN

?ARTH-VES No.31

EN CLAIR

FD

6B

PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

ING 390

UNCLASSIFIED

6 MAY 1968

گا

355

ADDSO TO FO TEL NO 390 OF 6 MAY RFI HONG KONG.

PEOPLE'S DAILY OF 4

HAY AND NCNA OF 3 MAY CARRY AN ARTICLE

REPORTING THE CELEBRATION OF MAY DAY BY HONG KONG WORKERS.

ARTICLE QUOTES A SPEECH BY LEADING MEMBER OF HONG KONG AND KOWLOON

FEDERATION OF TRADES UNION ON 30 APRIL .

SPEAKER SAID COMPATRIOTS WERE RESOLVED TO QUOTE AROUSE THE

MASSES BOLDLY, AND WITH POWERFUL SUPPORT OF PEOPLE OF THE MOTHER-

LAND WIN ULTIMATE VICTORY UNQUOTE IN STRUGGLE AGAINST BRITISH

PERSECUTION.

SIR D. HOPSON

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.0.

F.E.D. S.B.A.D.

D.D.

P.U.S.D.

I.R.D.

I.P.D.

NEWS DEPT.

C.0. H.K.D. S.A.D.

DIS KOD

Crfize MTR. Reached maxx. 75.

Jr. p. 7/2

Ed (4206)

Reference.

FD1/1 3.50

TRANS. → FD13/163

:

#

2018 13/7

CONFED INTIAL

IVED IN

#VES No 31

1 9 APR 1968

FD1/1

COMMON... LTH OFFICE,

LONDON, 0...1.

16 April, 1968

349)

sir,

I have the honour to refer to your Despatch No.239 of 13 February, 1968
in which you review the principal developmenta tɛat have taken place in
Hong Kong since June 1967.

2.

I consider your report to be an admirably accurate and objective history
of events during the paried inder review. It was regrettably inevitable
that it should need to be very largely devoted to reperting on the
course of Communist confrontation in the Colony. The account of the
build-up of the Communist osmpaign last year, the degree and manner of
suppert from the Chinese People's Government and in particular, the way
that the incident of 8 July at the Tau Kok triggered off the subsequent
campaign of violence, confirm the view that the confrontation was an
overspil11 of the cultural revolution in China. This, among other
things, resulted in a weakening of the channel of control over local
Hong Kong Comminists. Bit for the admirably Firs and patient policy of
the Hong Long Government and the strong beking it received from the
great majority of the people of Hong Kong, the Chinese People's
Government might have been tempted or obliged to give full support to
the efforts of their local supporters te disturb the status quo and to
undermine authority in the Oolony.

3. I do not dissent from the conclusions in paragrɛph 35 of your
despatch consarning internal developments in Chine, but my advisors and
I do..bt whether Mas Tse-tung and the extremists would be allowed by the
more moderate elements or by the People' a Liberation Army tɔ mount
ɑnother campaign a silar to that of last year, even if they wishod to do
so. The present disturb.nces in certain areas of China, incl:ding the
Kwangtung Province, though eansiderable, seem to be less viclent than
those which took place last ye r¡

and although it may be some time before order and stability can be
restored, they appear unlikely to influence Chinese policy adversely so
far as Hong Kong is scneerned.

4. However, the fact that, apart from isolated incidents, the losal
Communists have new abandoned the use of violence to achieve their ends
in the Colony mat leɔve us under no misapprehensions, There is, perhaps,
a danger that the efficiency and affectiveness

GOV KSON,

SIR DAVID Theidi, x.c.V............, K.C.

Thời, X.C.V.

ETC.,

AAC.,

TC..

/with

with which the demumist sinilmge iɛat your ru

soupled with the remarkable resilionea displayed by the

5.

and evert 26,

Kong ooozamy, may sreete the ingrosalón that the danger is and tast
vičilanno son be relaxed, 1 ons assure you that

part, I and my selles use are fully alive to the fact the Commnist
tärest to Tong Long zemine very real, and vi lä mee unabated, albait in
a different form, and that there are grounds whatevür for complacency on
our part.

Pubile tribute has deservedly bom paid in Parliament are then saa
seuraión de the moar in which the people of Beng Kong, under your
lenderahiy, met and withstood the che 2,1 ange presented to then by
ommunista; and to the errielaney with mich the Hong Kong Felice, with
the nasistanee of the Colony' a garrison, dealt with the situation. It
is, ɛowever, fitting that

should sonskade 1:18 despytek by confirming and recording the
appreciation of Her Majesty's Govwroomt for the tanner in which jou,
your advisers - both offisial and inofficial - the ferEDS law and order
and the general publie of the Oslony faood up to and overeano the
dangers siten eɔafy nted Hong lang during the your 1967.

I have the honour

sir

Your

obodieni

en Shaman.

Ed (4206)

!

Reference.

FD

Frill (348)

See Annex.

346

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVED IN

Cypher/Cat A

ARCHIVES No 31

4- APR 1968 TOI

PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno 272

4 April 1968

FIL!

Jasht

CONFIDENTIAL

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 272 of 4 April Repeated for
information to Hong Kong

My telegram No. 258: Hong Kong Prison Visits.

Message passed to Ministry of Foreign Affairs by telephone

on 3 April.

Sir D. Hopson

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.O. F.E.Dept.

D.D, & P.U.S.D.

Consular Dept.

Passport Control Dept.

J.I.R.D.

O.L.A.

News Dept.

C.0. Hong Kong Dept.

News Dept.

DIS MOD

ра

CONFIDENTIAL

لا

Cypher/Cat A

CONFIDENTIAL

IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

30 258 30 March 1968

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

5 APR 1968

やり

FDU/L. JB5/4

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 258 of 30 March Repeated for
information to Hong Kong

Your telegram No. 570 to Hong Kong: Prison Visits.

J

I agree and would propose to pass message (as suggested in

per

paragraph 5 of Hong Kong telegram No. 395) to the Chinese Ministry of
Foreign Affairs by telephone if possible in order to avoid giving them
opportunity of raking over the whole subject again.

I should be grateful therefore if Hong Kong would inform me when they
intend to make contact with NCNA so that we may pass our message more or
less simultaneously.

Sir D. Hopson

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

0.0. Hong Kong Dept.

News Dept.

F.O. F.E.D.

D.D. & P.U.S.D.

Consular Dept.

P.C.D.

J.I.R.D.

O.L.A.

News Dept. DIS MOD

ADVANCE COPIES SENT:

+

CONFIDENTIAL

+

I

+

(: K/3)

RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES N. 31 4- APR 1368

Fol

WICTED

Приме

(343

Office of the Briti.... Charge d'Affaires,

PERKING.

25 arch, 1960.

I should be grateful is you could let us know the number of political or
communist prisoners still in custody in Hong Kong, the length of their
sentences and an estimate of when, allowing for normal remission, they
might expect to be relenced. You will understund that the subject is one
of more than aendedzic interest to us here.

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