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Registry
No. HKK 14/38
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret.
Secret.
Confidential.
Restricted.
Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
DRAFT letter
To:-
2/10
Hon. D. T. E. Roberts, OBE, QC
Attorney General's Chambers
Над кажд
cc HKK 14/9
7
Type 1 +
From
Mr. Carter
Telephone No. & Ext.
Department
You will recall that during your discussions on
8 September with the Legal Advisers and ourselves about
the Prevention of Bribery Bill, you raised a point on
Clause 25 of the Bill relating to the right of an
accused person to make an unsworn statement from the
dock.
an
his
We have now learned from the Home Office that the
Criminal Law Revision Committee, who are reviewing the
law of criminal evidence in this country, do propose to
recommend that the right of accused persons to make
a such statement (as distinct from their right, if un-
his represented, to address the Court in their own defence)
should be abolished. Last year the Committee circulari-
sed the legal profession about the recommendations which
they were considering making on this and other matters
and most of those circularised agreed with this particu-
lar proposal. It seems likely that the Committee will
recommend accordingly although this cannot be regarded
as certain until they present their report (which it is
hoped will be within the coming twelve months). The
Committee's competence is limited to the law of England
and Wales.
We would see no objection to this change being
introduced in Hong Kong at the same time that it is
introduced in this country. But we adhere to the view
that if any such change is introduced, it should be of
general application and should not be limited to persons
/ accused