Foreign and Commonwealth Office
irathe Minister of State
The Rt Hon The Lord Goranwy-Roberts
NEXT
REF.
London SW1A 2AH
Seal Li
20 May 1977
22
Sea. Keith,
n
22
I am replying to your further letter of 9 May to David Owen about Dr Christopher Clomonts of Kosgrove, Near Inswich, ho faces a murder charge in Hong Kong. You will by now have received my interim reply to your letter of 3 May.
I am sorry that the letter from Consular Department did not make clear that although we have no explanatory leaflets about the legal aid scheme in Hong Kong we have asked the Legal Department there immediately to forward to us any literature that may be available. I shall
rite to you again as soon as we hear from them.
I have meanwhile been informed that committal proceedings have been set for 10 June. I have also been Informed by the Hong Kong Government that although legal aid can be provided for certain defendants committed for trial on capital offences in the High Court, it is not available for preliminary magisterial hearings. If Mr Clements is committed for trial on 10 June therefore, he should at that stage apply for legal aid. The outcome of his application will depend upon his financial position; I understand that he has said that his resources are slender.
"blind" e.c.
H.K.G.D.
כי י *
Keith Stainton Esq P House of Commons
\/
/The