1/5/2
it. Pon. Roy Jenkins, M.P.,
Home Office,
onden, S..1.
Dear Mr. Secretary Jenkins,
1103 Prince's Building, Hong Kong,
September 19, 1967
TREAT OFFICIULY
25 SEP 1967
12
27 SEP 1967
- While on this, one of my periodic visits to my Chairbers here, I have been approached by a number of bewildered members of both sides of the profession concerning the policy of your Department. In order to practise here at the Bar, it is necessary to study and to be called in England: in other words, all prac- tising Members of the Bar here are members of the English Bar, with the exception of one who is a member of the Northern Irish Bar. The same applies to the solicitors' profession.
Whe
Post of these men are British subjects, but their passports are issued in Hong Kong. The last few months have been a trying and testing time, and the loyalty of the Bar and the solicitors has not only been overwhelming but heartwarming. You can imagine, taerefore,
the dismay that has been felt when those of the pro- fessions who have small children have made enquiries about the possibility of returning to England should anything dreadful happen here. I cannot say that your representative or his staff have been actively obstructive, hut, in carrying out your orders, they have certainly created the impression that it is exceedingly difficult for these of Her Majesty's subjects to retura to or to seek refuge in their mother conatry, but also that ey are warted. It appears to make no difference that they are eminently capable of self support; that they are free holders in Engl that their children are at or ore intended for school in Daylend,
1112-
Surely, Sir, that cannot be the true position. Surely, we cannot be as heartless and wic'ed as We are making ourselves out to be? Surely your orders are not as hars/ as people here are gives to understand? I desperately hope that you will be able to give me at least, and in due course, the professions bore, positive reassurance.
?
The medical profession is equally dismayed. ed British passports if they were foreigners!
Soe
etters
co gider.
Helvang of com told that they must apply for "M2. They have all recently received fre the Governor asking for their loyalty, They have given mostintily, but they have families and young children to
O not reassure them that, if some disaster befall we will shelter them at home? It certainly would stroo then
As I said in e considerably and revive flagging patriotism. *tter to
on another matter, you are one of your colleagues Sealing here with a bunch of dissident Arabs, you are deali
be
Recent
t
th