FEB.
MAR
MAY
JAN.
1977
TEB.
MAR APR.
APR.
2
LIFE IMPRISOM
MAY
JUNE
1
TOTALS 79
3
5
87
-+
JULY
AUG.
SEPT. Oca.
3
3
Stanley:
DLCW:
Stanley Prison
Chi Ma Wan Prison
Pad Lam Contre for Women
NOV. DEO.
2
r
2
+
1973 JAN.
8
8
FEB.
LIVIN
PRIORITY
CONFIDENTIAL
TUP COPY
}
CYPHER CAT/A
HỒNG KÔNG 1949552
CONFIDENTIAL
FEA 14 "
TO PRIORITY F.C.O. TELEGRAM NUMBER 198′ OF 19 MARCH PRIORITY INFO
FEKING.
31
MY TELEGRAM 188: CONFRONTATION FRISONERS.
THE PRISON BCARD OF REVIEW MET AGAIN ON 10 MARCH AND RECOMMENDED
REDUCTIONS IN THE SENTENCES OF 8 CONFRONTATION RISONERS. I HAVE
ACCEPTED THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
2, THE RESULT OF THESE DECISIONS IS THAT 2 PRISONERS WILL BE
RELEASED ON 33 MARCH, ONE OF WHOM WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN
RELEASED NOT BEFORE 16 JULY 1974 AND THE OTHER NOT BEFORE 15
MARCH 1973. ONE FURTHER PRISONER WILL BE RELEASED ON 15 APRIL
WISE EARLIEST RELEASE DATE WAS 15 APRIL 1977. THE 3 REMAINING
FEMALE PRISONERS VILL BE RELEASED ON 29 APRIL. THEIR EARLIEST
RELEASE DATES WOULD HAVE BEEN ONE ON 28 AUGUST, 1972 AND TWO CI 28 APRIL
1973. OF THE TWO MALES REMAINING, ONE WILL BE RELEASED
ON 16 MAY WHOSE EARLIEST RELEASE DATE WOULD HAVE BEEN 16 JANUARY
1974 AND CNE WILL BE RELEASED ON 25 MAY WHOSE EARLIEST RELEASE
BATE WOULD HAVE BEEN 25 SEPTEMBER 1972.
3. A LIST OF NAMES FOLLOWS BY BAG.
4. I SUGGEST THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE INFORMED OF THESE
[ECISIONS ON 29 MARCH, IT SEEMS ADVISABLE TO TRY TO REDUCE THE LEVEL AT
WHICH WE MAKE THESE COMMUNICATIONS TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.
THE MORE WE CAN TREAT THEM AS ROUTIENE EVENTS THE BETTER.
DENSON AGREES AND PROPOSES
THAT THE COMMUNICATION SHOULD BE MADE IN PEKING AT A FAIRLY
LOW LEVEL. I HOPE THAT YOU WILL AGREE NOT TO GIVE IT ANY GREATER
EMPHASIS IN LONDON. HAVING INFORMED THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ON
29 MARCH OF ALL THESE 8 RELEASES WE WOULD PROPOSE TO MAKE NO FURTHER
COMMUNICATION TO THEM AS THE INDIVIDUALS WERE RELEASED IN THE
FOLLOWING TWO MONTHS.
•
CONFIDENTIAL
/5.WE
+
CONFIDENTIAL
5+ WE SHOULD ALSO GIVE THE INFORMATION TO THE PRESS HERE ON TH
SAME LINES BUT ON 32 MARCH.
6. THE BOARD OF REVIEW WILL MEET AGAIN IN JUNE WHEN IT MAY HAVE
APCUT ANOTHER 6 CASES TO CONSIDER, THOUGH THESE WILL BE MUCH MORE
MARGINAL.
7. IN ADDITION TO THE EIGHT CONFRONATION PRISONERS THE BOARD OF
REVIEW
ALSO RECOMMENDED THE REDUCTION OF SENTENCE OF A FORGER. HE WILL BE
RELEASED ON MARCH 32 TOO.
J
TRENCH
FILES
F.E.D.
H.K.D.
PRIVATE SECRETARY
P.S. TO P.U.S.
P.S. TO HR ROYLE
SIR S TOMLINSON
MR WILFORD
-2-
CONFIDENTIAL
+
1
$36
Mr Wilford
Sir S Tomlinson
CONFIDENTIAL
a
enter p.9
(M.
15.3
162
N
CONFRONTATION PRISONERS
1. The summary of press reactions prepared in Hong Kong
is now attached. It reports a relaxed response and
concludes that the press interest has been small and is
less than in previous such releases.
2.
The Governor has promised an "assessment of reactions
other than press". When this has been received I shall
submit further.
11 March 1971
Copies to: Sir L Monson
SALMorgan
J A L Morgan
Far Eastern Department
K 255
Wheat is particularly with emble
that no "wown wakowers iss
Fa
Er Laird (Hong Kong Dept) he been accosted KIE
released prissiers.
обриятиет
receptio
A low kary
is most mitable and live
with what we believe the Peking line
1 Час
Kun Wilfor
CONFIDENTIAL
1/3
***
+
rewith Summary of Press Response to Release of
oners, as requested.
With the Compliments
of the
Public Relations Division. Government Information Servicos.
Sutherland House, ish floor,
3, Chater Road, Hong Kong.
+
**
+
:
I
Ы
г
i
I
C
+
Press Response to the Release of Prisoners
Non-Communist Press
The first paper to report the issue was the Sing To Man Po (25.2.71).
The report was quite prominent and was accompanied by a picture showing
some of the prisoners getting into a taxi.
The tone of the report was quite sarcastic saying that there were no
"comrades" outside to welcome the prisones with "red books" and happy
shouts about their "glorious return". The only people waiting outside
were a few photographers. Eventually they had to sneak away quietly with
their "heads bowed low".
A reporter was quoted as saying that as far as he could remember, this
was the most "neglected" group of released leftist prisoners.
The story was picked up the next morning (26.2.71) by Sing To Jih Po,
Hong Kong Times, Kung Sheung Tat Po, Fai Po, Tin Tin Tat Po, Ming Po and
Sing Po.
Tin Tin, Sing Fo, Ming Po and Sing To carried straight factual reporta
about the release including (1) the names of the 24 prisoners, (2) the
reasons for their arrests, and (3) the grounde for their early release.
Kung Sheung and Hong Kong Times devoted more space to the issue. In
addition to the facts, they both emphasized the fact that there were no
leftists at the scene to welcome them.
-
The most critical headline was found in Fai Po. It appeared in the form
of a rhetorical question What is the price of glory?! It decribed the
atmosphere at the scene of their release as "desolate" and
"heart-chilling".
Communist Press
Coders
The release from prison of 24 comsades-in-arme was accorded moderate
coverage in all of the major communist papers on 26th February,
including the New Evening Post and Hong Kong Evening News on the day
before.
Reports on this issue were almost identical in all of these papers.
Besides giving the names and professions of the prisoners, they all
stressed the following points :
(1) These men were unreasonably arrested by the Hong Kong British during
the 1967 disturbances;
(2) they were thrown into the "black" prisons and subjected to serious
"physical and mental tortures";
(3) they firmly maintained their "patriotism" and their
"anti-imperialist"
attitude during their imprisonment;
(4) before leaving the prison, they demanded that the Hong Kong British
should:-
(a) promptly release the other patiotic compatriots,
guarantee their health and personal safety and
(c) protect the right of the prisone who are still entitled to know junë
-*
for their wrongful imprisonment.
(5) The prisoners vowed to unite more closely, learn more
enthusiastically
and contribute all their efforts to their ideal in the future. (6) The
prisoners were highly praised" given a warm welcome by their
family members, and workers of all trades.
CAFF
REA
1; 3༔
INWARD
ISTRY
LET
+
Editorials
So far, there have been only two editorials in the English language
papers on this issue (see newspaper cuttings) and none in the Chinese
language papers.
In general, the press interest in the release of these prisoners has
been quite small and is certainly less than in previous such releases.
*
CYPHER CAT/A
CONFIDENTIAL
The Co
FM HONG KONG 780112Z
CHFIDENTIAL
TO ROUTINE F.C.O. TELEGRAM NO. 156 OF 8TH MARCH 1971 INFO
PEKING.
YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 177.
CONFRONTATION FRISONERS.
R
९
I
A SUMMARY OF PRESS REACTIONS HAS BEEN SENT TO THE DEPARTMENT
AND TO PEKING BY BAG THIS WEEK-END.
2. YOU WILL SEE THAT THE IMMEDIATE PRESS REACTION WAS ON
PREDICTABLE LINES. THE COMMUNIST PRESS HAS MADE DEMANDS FOR
THE RELEASE OF THE REMAINING FRISONERS AND REFEATED THE USUAL
ACCUSATIONS ABOUT THE INJUSTICE AND BRUTALITY OF OUR PROCEDURES,
WHILST SOME OF THE NON-COMMUNIST PRESS HAVE QUESTIONED THE
WISDOM OF MAKING WHAT THEY REGARD AS POLITICAL CONCESSIONS.
3. ON THE WHOLE WE HAVE, SO FAR AS PRESS REACTIONS GO, GOT
AWAY WITH THIS PARTICULAR LARGE BUNCH OF RELEASES WITHOUT TOO
MUCH DAMAGE, THANKS TO THE USE OF THE NORMAL PROCEDURE OF THE
BOARD OF REVIEW. REACTIONS TO FURTHER RELEASES AND REDUCTIONS
OF SENTENCES.LATER MAY NOT NECESSARILY, HOWEVER, BE SIMILAR.
AN ASSESSMENT OF REACTIONS OTHER THAN PRESS REACTIONS IS BEING
PREPARED.
TRENCH
FILES
HKD
FED
SIR L MONSON
FR WILFORD
[REPEATED AS REUESTED]
CONFIDENTIAL
BV I wa
MAS
pla
171 3
P
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFRONTATION PRISONERS HELD ON 26th FEBRUARY 1971
Name
Prison No.
Sentence
(years)
Expected date of discharge
1.
CHAN Chin-fong
28330 X
5+8+8+2 concurrent
25.1.73
2.
CHAN Choi
28491
8+8 concurrent
18.2.73
3.
CHAN Hon
28490
8+2 concurrent
18.2.73
4.
CHAN Kwong-yan
29737 Casas 14|||| 2+7 consecutive
16.1.74
5.
CHAN Sang-cheung
29863
10
15.8.74
6.
CHAN Shu-nam
30694
*
14+10+10+10 concurrent
15.4.77
7.
CHAN Wing-cheung
28016
8+8 concurrent
13.1.73
8.
CHAN Yik
28489 X
8+4 concurrent
3.2.73
9.
CHAN Yuen-yu
F383 M 2441 7+7 concurrent
28.8.72
10.
CHAN Yuk-va
28754
10+10 concurrent
义
:
11.
CHAU Cheuk-kai
29000
12.
CHAU Sik-keung
27496 %
13.
CHAU Wing-cheung
28850
s. 8+8 concurrent
5+2+1+5 concurrent
8+8+4+8 concurrent
4.7.74 41.3.71 *
15.3.73
12.12.72
14. CHENG Yat-choi
28669 X
8
15.
CHU Ping-yin
29738
2+5 consecutive
17.3.73
2.5.71
16.
CHU Wing-chuen
28998
Life
17.
FUNG Man
27952 X
8+3+3 concurrent
6.1.73
18.
IP Sing
29884 X
9+9+5+9+9 concurrent
11.1.74
19.
IP Tat-shing
28999
10+5+Life+Life concurrent
20/
IP Yuen-kvan
28492 *
8
4.2.73
21.
KWAN Siu-king
F384 R5 4-1.
848 concurrent
28.4.73
22.
LAU Sze-kvan
23.
LAI Kvong
29600 ( 28329 ⭑
5+5 concurrent
21.4.71 ¥
548 concurrent
25.1.73
24.
LEUNG Pun
30412
5+5+8+5 concurrent
9.6.73
25.
LI Kvai-fong
F382 las 24/7
8+8 concurrent
28.4.73
26.
LI Man-vai
28849
562
10
16.7.74
27.
LING Suet-keung
27684
8+5 concurrent
20.12.72
28.
LO Lun
32869 x
29.
LO Shui-yan
30954
4+5 consecutive
12+12+12 concurrent
28.3.76
15.2.76
30.
LUX Nam
29279-
8
6.4.73
31.
MA Shu-keung
27994
7
32.
MOK Siu-kui
29736
12
441.
12.5.72 v
- 14.12.75
33.
NG Kin-piu
29702
8
34.
So Poon
27953
8+3+3+8 concurrent
: 35.
SZETO FOon
29281
8
36.
TAM Fat (alias WONG Yau) 28707.
10+5 concurrent
2.5.73
6.1.73
7.4.73
24.6.74
CONFIDENTIAL
L
H
CONFIDENTIAL
2
Name
37.
38.
1
TAM Wai-ming
Frison No.
Sentence (years)
301.99 mare visp 7
Expected date of discharge
25.9.72
39.
TO Min
TONG Ching-ping
28906 *
16.3.73
27993 X
5+8 concurrent
10.1.73
40. TSANG Fai-ming
27495
8+8+4+9 concurrent
-.11.73
41.
TSANG Mui
42.
TSUI Chun
28834 £ 29882
9
16.11.73
9+9+5+9+9 concurrent
11.1.74
43.
WAN Kam-hung
28168 x
10+10+5 concurrent
11.1.74
44.
WAN Kei
28968 X
9
21.11.73
45.
WONG Chung
29282 X
6+5 concurrent
6.12.71 *
46.
WONG Ting-sau
28328
5+8+8 concurrent
25.1.73
X
47.
YAU Wai
29883
9+9+5+5 concurrent
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