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FILE NO FEH
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14/1
TITLE: RELEASE OF PRISONERS
(Part A)
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CONVICTED FOR OFFENCES
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DURING CONFRONTATION WITH COMMUNISTS 1967/68
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Prisoners
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(Part A ) Convicted for Offences
1967/68
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Mr Wilford
Mr Logan
CONFIDENTIAL
M. Morgan 2498
ÅR
enteron fire.
SMA
B
11
REACTION IN HONG KONG TO THE RELEASE OF CONFRONTATION PRISONERS
1. Mr Royle enquired about the reaction in Hong Kong
to recent releases of confrontation prisoners.
2.
A summary of press reactions to the release of 24
prisoners in February is contained in Hong Kong telegram
No. 156. In short, press coverage was restrained although
communist newspapers in the Colony made predictable demands
for the release of the remaining prisoners. Reactions
from the general public were equally muted (Mr Maddock's
letter of 29 March and enclosure). Such comment as there
was indicated that the releases were generally welcomed as
part of the process of détente. Misgivings were expressed
in some quarters that they indicated a willingness to bow to
Chinese pressure, but apart from this, there appears to
have been no significant public criticism.
3.
The Hong Kong Prison Board of Review met on 18 March
to review the sentences for 11 further confrontation
prisoners. The meeting had an easy passage and reductions
in the sentences of 8 prisoners were accepted (Hong Kong
C (63) telegram No. 198). The first two prisoners were released
on 27 March and a third on 15 April. The remainder will be
released between the end of April and the end of May. The
Political Adviser has undertaken to let us have a report
น
- 1 -
CONFIDENTIAL
A
CONFIDENTIAL
on the reactions in Hong Kong to this batch of releases.
3. The Board of Review will meet again in June to consider
the case of another 13 prisoners. Mr Maddocks has warned
us that this meeting may not be so readily agreeable to
further releases as that which met in March.
19 April 1971
SALMagan
JA L Morgan
༢༥
Far Eastern Department
Perhaps the Minister would
have a falka
Copy to:
Mr Laird Hong Kong Department
Like I have
falk about where
ww
-go firm here. The verboject will
probably come up when waspecte
the Sofs
статорксова
21 April
2.
2 -
CONFIDENTIAL
/4
The
HOUSE
OF
COMMONS
From: Miss Mary Holt M.P.
of
utary of
HKD).
8th April 1971;
✓ (79
bas rot reen
Hi. Rayle
е
Гон
Dear Sir Alec,
I enclose a letter from
one of the residents of Preston complaining about the release of
Communist prisoners found guilty or bomb outrages in 1967.
May I add my complaints to
hers. If the rule of law and order is to operate fairly and justly fo
reign and trade policy ought not to interfere with judicial sentences.
In the circumstances I deplore the deci sion which has been tak en.
Yours sincerely,
Juni
Many
Mary Holt
The Right Hon. Sir Alec Louglas-Home M.P., Secretary of State for
Foreign &
Commonwealth Affairs,
House of Commons,
London S.W.1.
нас
1.
128 Luskech R
Ashton on Kibble..
6.4.71
Just a line the
Dean luis Holk,
drow your ・enclosed.
Vattention to Kei
Gwas
Quite honestly
I was horrificil when Lakad
have always looked upon
it
Conservatives as
to
as at least the luost Alristian panty. But, don't you
thinky kiss is going give the ok. Its go ahead
om Comms & fellow torielles with their refarious plans)
Even from
a material point of view it is shocking:
now
Secondly, I notice that the
heing gradually Grammar schools and quads ebralete. One of the planques
of the Government was he Connoriation of our good Schools. In Aston-
where we live no child is
to ait for a face Which I think is most conjust. I Grammar Raoul If poor
people have sleves children he only way for them
allowed
Scholeiship to
to have
a
a
Welly
education is to either lay school fees or imcove out to the Counter
I will await
reply
(Miss) An
with interest
yond
bey Youd
illary Skilgree.
I
I
4
1
,
1
I
1
THE SUNDAY EXPRESS March 28 1971
Ennipuire and OREIGN Hesk
HONGKONG ROW OVER DECISION
TO FREE REDS
ANGER is mounting over the decision, ol the Hongkong Government to free
eight more Com- minist prisoners jailed for bomb oul Jages and olher
offences in the 1967 riods.
The latest release-25 Reds
freed last were February-1s believed to be due to intense pressure by
the British Govern- ment, which wants to
Sunday Express Reporter
HONGKONG
fuake a good will gesture to China..
Three of the eight prisoners were released im- The other five mediately
will be freed by the end of May.
The more contes ilmast nu the eye of the Canton Trade Pair at winch
Britain hopes to seal important trude déala with China. And Il comes
only. a few days after Mr. Edward Heath spoke in near-glowing terms
about the Chineis, to a German newspaper Die WEL
Mr. Heath is reported to have
J
-
Jakt Britain BOUL. CHas In The United Nations, 16 at mentioned 14 Botana
ti me had developeu med vila China.
Among the esht ate polegasu hard-une Reda serving J refus di hezkeen
amcn and H4 years. "The last 'was not due fa
releuse until 1977.
One la reported zo de Culati Shu-Man, sentenced to 14 venta for a bomh
mitmer sch ch children. Three
T11 1907 TIOGA mund dentis.
Nomb attaci
Only hours releases
were
*.**
i
i Betish hero of the 1967 e
turoaness had ha right an blown off in 7 ACT DE outrage. He is
Buprintenanc Norman Hill MBE, A456 Į chief ballaties officer of the |
Hongkong PO"C".
A bomb would in bo Ba paper 1213 found Lo central Gorezima! While Hill,
wie u due to retire soon, fun facing K there was an "Aplonon. Bà 12
senously in
The autmen han spark d ↑ fears of another "Lef -wag terror campo.jn.
:
J
L
I
FEAT.
CONFIDENTIAL
exth Tha
Office of the British Chargé d'Affaires
PEKING
SM
13.4
26 March 1971
You vill wish to be aware that, as a result of further meeting of the
irison Board of Xeview in llong Konɛ, a muber of reductions in the
sentences of Chinese prisoners sentenced in 1967 have been made a
The remalt
of these decisions will be that two prisoners vill be released on 27
March, one of whom would have otherwise have been released not before 16
July 1974, and the other not before 15 March 1973. One further prizŭner
will be released on 15 \pril, whose earliest relevso date would naye
been 15 April 1977. The three remaining ferale prisoners will be
released on 28 April. Their earliest release dates would have been one
on 28 'ugust 1972, and
28 ugust 1972. two on 28 April 1973, One furkher prisoner will be
released on 16 Hay, whose earliest zelenre doba wuld have been 16
Jarmary 1974, and one will be releksed on May, whose earliest release
date would have been Leptember 1972, The process of review of sentences
by the Frison Beard of Review will contimne, as will normal releures.
I take this opportunity to convey my best wishes.
"ang Ani-kuuang
Deputy Dirsatar
Atropean and American Department Ministry of Foreign ffai-s
People'ʼn Republic of China
cc JAL Morgan Esq FED, FCO
AP Maddocks Esq. HONG KONG
T
CONFIDENTIAL
JB DemgoR
ховики
Γ
CONFIDENTIAL
5. H. A's assessment of public reaction
to the release of 24 confrontation
prisoners at the end of February, 1971.
+
(?)
+
There was little spontaneous comment, but what there was indicated for
the most part that the development was welcomed as "part of a process of
détente. We then made discreet enquiries
over a wide area. The results indicated no widespread interest but from
the response of an educated or thinking minority who had studied press
coverage and comment the following points emerged :-
(a) It is widely assumed that these are "political prisoners"
(b)
(c)
and different in some way from ordinary criminals. From this assumption
some have drawn the conclusion that they should be more leniently
treated and some the opposite conclusion.
+
The absence of Communist welcoming ceremonies has been noted and
welcomed as indicating that the Communists have sought to make only
limited propaganda capital from the releases.
In the case of more organized opinion, notably in the many associations
(Kaifongs and the like) which came out strongly in support of the Hong
Kong Government in 1967, misgivings have been expressed on the grounds
that the release of such a large number of prisoners reflects a
willingness on the part of H.M.G. in the United Kingdom to yield to
Chinese pressure.
+
Secretariat for Home Affairs,
19th March, 1971.
CONFIDENTIAL]
·
•
P
C.S. 41A
2600077
10,000-6/70-874525
REF.SCR 7/3371/68 II
J AL Morgan Esq
FED
F CO
CONFIDENTIAL
L
cc Mh
Mh Wilfand
LONDON S W 1
し
Ah Land
Encer UM
COLONIAL SECRETARIAT
LOWER ALBERT ROAD
HON HONE
29 March, 1971.
76
77
Dear John
CONFRONTATION PRISONERS
60
FEA
In our telegram No.156 to F.C.0. of 8 March we promised to send you an
assessment of reactions other than press reactions to the releases of
prisoners which took place at the end of February. I now enclose a copy
of an assessment made by the Secretariat for Home Affairs on 18 March.
2.
VIL
The release of 24 prisoners at the end of February caused little
immediate comment but we cannot be sure that ve vill get away so easily
with releases in future: and it is of course the long t
ich have most concerned us. A major point in our Favour was the fact
that the releases were based upon recommendations made by the Board of
Review. Releases outside the Board of Review procedure would be likely
to arouse more opposition in Hong Kong. There is also the possibility
that even releases through the Board of Review procedure might provoke
more criticism than did these if the idea became current that we were
embarking upon a regular series of releases leading to the very early
release of them all.
3.
We vill let you know about the reactions to the releases vhich were
announced on 27 March.
Copied (with encl.) to:
J.B. Denson Esq, OBE Peking.
You
ever
Huthwa
(A.F. Maddocks)
CONFIDENTIAL
CYPHER CAT A
F: PEKING 310355Z
CONFIDENTIAL
L
76
CONFIDENTIAL
FEA
14
TOP COPY
TO ROUTINE FCO TELNO 297 OF 31 HARCH INFO HONG KONG
MY TELNO 269: CONFRONTATION PRISONERS
1. AT DINNER LAST NIGHT CHANG WEN-CHIN SAID THAT THE
CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAD NOTED THE COMMUNICATION I HAD SENT TO
T'ANG ABOUT RELEASES OF CONFRONTATION PRISONERS. THEY WELCOMED
THIS FURTHER GESTURE GUT AS THE PREMIER HAD TOLD ME THEY
HOPED THAT ALL PRISONERS COULD SOON BE RELEASED. I REPLIED
THAT THE REVIEW PROCEDURE WOULD CONTINUE BUT I COULD GIVE
NO FORECASTS OR GUARANTEES ABOUT FURTHER RELEASES.
ра
2.
CHANG ALSO REFERRED TO MY REQUEST TO CHOU FOR INFORMATION
ABOUT THE FOUR BRITISH SUBJECTS STILL DETAINED. HE SAID THAT
THIS HAD BEEN TRANSMITTED TO THE AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND
WHEN THERE WAS ANY INFORMATION WE WOULD BE INFORMED.
DENSON
PILES
FED
HKD
CONS DEPT
PS
PS/MR ROYLE
SIR S TOMLINSON
MR VILFORD
SIR L MONSON
CONFIDENTIAL
L
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