NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Dd.033009 Gp.863

(b) a sentence of life imprisonment,

after consultation with the Lord Chief

Justice and the trial judge

(Section 61).

There are provisions for the revocation of

licences (Section 62) on the recommendation of

the Parole Board or when the Secretary of

State deems it expedient in the public

interest. Section 59 establishes the Parole

Board and local review committees.

ang

Tabe

slyp?

The adoption of suspended sentences and

release on licence would, we realise, be

major policy steps for Hong Kong to take in

the treatment of offenders and cannot, of

course, be regarded merely as devices for use

in dealing with communist prisoners.

In any

case the suspended sentence, a judicial as

opposed to an administrative act, could have

little relevance to the sort of situation we

have been considering in this letter, since its

use would depend on the discretion of the

at lime & passing sentence

Courts. But it does seem that release on

licence might be a useful power to have up

your sleeve; while the necessary legislation

could not perhaps e enacted in time to be

used to any great effect in the present

situation, it might stand you in good stead in

the unhappy event of a repetition of recent

troubles.

Over the years we have gathered together

some office expertise on the subject of release

on licence, provisions of this nature having

been adopted in a number of\dependent

If you are interested I will

territories.

send you some guidance on this.

Suspended

/sentences

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