W(B)L 51-7406
CONFIDENTIAL
Note No.9
VISIT OF PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY,
LIR. ROYLE, TO HONG KONG
OCTOBER 1970
CONFRONTATION PRISONERS
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INSERT
Number of Prisoners
There are now eighty prisoners still
serving sentences in Hong Kong for offences
committed during the disturbances in 1967. By
1974 all but seven, (including two with life
have been
sentences) will be released.
Review Procedure
5 Under the Letters Patent the Governor has
discretion to review sentences and to grant
pardons and remissions. He is normallly
advised by the Prisons Board of Review
consisting of four official and two unofficial
members under the chairmanship of the Attorney
General. Prison Rule 69 provides that normal
remission will be one third of sentence. Rule
69A lays down that prisoners serving sentences
Years of six months or more will have their sentences
reviewed after four years and thereafter every
Years old two years.
Prisoners under twenty-one have
annual review. Broadly speaking, the criteria
wwer which the Board applies are the prisoner's
health, conduct, character and the likely
public reaction to his release.
6.
called upon B Review ске In May 1969 the Governor envened a Board/
^
to examine the cases of Confrontation prisoners
serving sentences of four years and more,
instead of the usual six years. This was
essentially a device to secure the release in
October 1969 of Wong Chak, the one remaining
CONFIDENTIAL
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