£28
}
32 300
PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT A
F1 FCO 061710Z
RESTRICTED
КК 380/7
水
· 7 OCT 1977
Y luken
(HKK 380/7)
No 1103/
35
tex35
RESTRICTED
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TELEORAH NUMBER 764 OF 6/10
YOUR TELMOS 985 AND 939: CHRISTOPHER CLEMENTS
1. MR KEITH STAINTO!! MP (CONSERVATIVE SUDBURY AND WOODBRIDGE)
HAS SENT A FURTHER LETTER TO LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS ON THIS CASE,
WHILE NOW QUOTE REASONABLY SATISFIED UNQUOTE ON THE QUESTION OF
LEGAL AID FOR CLEMENTS, HE EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT:~
(A) THE TIMING OF THE TRIAL: HE SAYS THAT THERE IS A STRONG POSSIBILITY THAT, IF THE TRIAL STARTS ON 12 DECEMBER, THE COURTS
WILL GO INTO RECESS DEFORE IT HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND THAT QUOTE
THE EFFECT OF THIS ON CHRISTOPHER CLEMENTS CANNOT POSSIBLY BE
BENEFICIAL TO SAY THE LEAST UNQUOTE:
(D) THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH CLEMENTS IS BEING HELD: AND
(C) CLEMENTS' POSSIBLE REMOVAL TO THE UK IF CONVICTED.
2. YOUR HELPFUL TELEGRAMS UNDER REFERENCE HAVE PROVIDED SUFFICIENT
MATERIAL FOR US TO ANSWER MR STAINTON'S (B). GRATEFUL HOWEVER
AT
THE LATEST DESKBY 101000Z, FOR MATERIAL WITH WHICH TO BASE A REPLY ON THE OTHER TWO POINTS, ON (A) IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO HAVE YOUR
ESTIMATE OF HOW LONG THE TRIAL WILL LAST AND WHEN, IF IT IS
INTERRUPTED BY THE CHRISTMAS RECESS, IT MIGHT BE RESUMED. IT WOULD
RE PARTICULARLY USEFUL IF (FURTHER TO PARAGRAPH 2 OF YOUR FIRST TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE) WE COULD TELL MR STAINTON THAT IT WAS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PREPARING AN ADEQUATE DEFENCE THAT.
THE DEFENCE COUNSEL POQUESTED THAT THE COMMENCEMENT OF TRIAL DE DELAYED. AS TO (C) IT WOULD DE USEFUL TO HAVE AN INDICATION OF
WHAT YOUR ATTITUDE MIGHT PE TOWARDS A REQUEST THAT CLEMENTS, IF CO‘VICTED, BE REMOVED TO THE UK TO SERVE HIS SENTENCE. IT IS UNCLEAR
RESTRICTE
/WHAT.