CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 370 /l
C
170561 MDHOAN 2894
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 852
OF 031715Z MAY 91
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PAUL, HKD
TOP COM O DIST
THE HONG KONG LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND THE HARRIS CASE
1. I AM FAXING TO YOU A LETTER DATED 29 APRIL WHICH THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS RECEIVED FROM DAVID HOWELL MP ABOUT MATTERS CONCERNING THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT INCLUDING THE HARRIS CASE. HE ENCLOSES A LETTER FROM THE PARENTS OF CHRISTOPHER HARRIS WHO ARE CONSTITUENTS OF HIS.
2.
AS YOU MAY RECALL, MR HOWELL WROTE TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE LAST JUNE ABOUT THE HARRIS AFFAIR AND THE SITUATION IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT. AT THAT TIME HOWEVER, HARRIS' CASE WAS SUBJUDICE AND WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO MAKE A LIMITED RESPONSE INFORMING
MR HOWELL OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE NEW DPP. MR HOWELL HAS NOW ASKED IN THE LIGHT OF THE HARRIS LETTER, FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE PRESENT SITUATION.
3. MR AND MRS HARRIS RAISE A NUMBER OF POINTS WHICH APPEAR TO QUESTION THE ROLE OF LEGAL DEPARTMENT:
A) THE CASE LAST YEAR OF THE 111 VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE, IN PARTICULAR, THE TREATMENT OF A LEGAL AID SOLICITOR, MRS P BAKER.
B) THE POSITION OF MR FINDLAY.
C) THE CONTINUED IMPRISONMENT OF CHRISTOPHER HARRIS.
D) THE CONTINUATION IN OFFICE OF MR MATTHEWS, 'THE ROOT OF ALL THE TROUBLE' DESPITE CRITICISM FROM LEGAL CIRCLES AND THE
COURT OF APPEAL.
4.
I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND FOR ADVICE ON HOW THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHOULD REPLY TO MR HOWELL, IF POSSIBLE
DESKBY 07093OZ.
HURD
YYYY
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