0
from de Basto) but their general opinion being that the safeguards should take the form of a judicial proceeding, with the parties subject to cross- examination by the Counɗ@l. In this light his disclaimer that the legal profession would gain any particular advantage is not convincing.
As a matter of further interest the sub-committee was "fortified" at one point to find that one of its recommendations was also advocated by international bodies operating under United Nations auspices.
We know that the recommendations made to the Secretary of State in 1965 and which will form the broad basis
of legislation, were fully in accordance with the Arquatenats of U.N. and Convention on Adarriages
5. I do not think that there is anything to be gained at this stage from isolating in the approved recommenda- tions those which might be at variance with the recommendations of Mr. de Basto's sub-committee.
In
any case, as I have indicated above, the Governor has only recently proposed to vary a previous recommendation and there is probably a long way to go before this difficult Bill is finally drafted. In the circumstances, I recommend that we deal with the letter as Mr. Murray has proposed, and indeed along the lines suggested
by the Private Office. The reply should refer
Mr. de Basto firmly back to the appropriate authorities, in the Colony and a draft is submitted accordingly. We should, I suggest, send a copy of Mr. de Basto's letter to the Governor, together with a copy of Lord Shepherd's reply, for any comments they may wish to make at this stage.
19 December 1968
Mur
(H. H. Stewart) Hong Kong Department
D. Godden
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23/12/68