SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 3405
OF 19113OZ NOVEMBER 90
C
SECRET
105354
MDHIAN O054
PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM GOVERNOR
COLONIAL PRISONERS REMOVAL ACT
CHARLES WARWICK REID
SUMMARY
1. WE SHOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF REMOVING MR
CHARLES WARWICK REID TO THE UNITED KINGDOM TO COMPLETE HIS SENTENCE, UNDER SECTIONS 2(A) AND (D) OF THE COLONIAL PRISONERS REMOVAL ACT 1984 (THE ACT).
DETAIL
2. THE BACKGROUND TO THE REID CASE IS SET OUT IN MIFT.
3. REID IS CURRENTLY IN ICAC CUSTODY AT THEIR DETENTION CENTRE. UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, HE WOULD BY NOW BE TRANSFERRED TO THE CUSTODY OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO SERVE OUT HIS SENTENCE, AFTER HE HAD COMPLETED GIVING EVIDENCE FOR THE CROWN.
4. HOWEVER, IN VIEW OF THE SUBSTANTIAL ASSISTANCE HE HAS GIVEN TO THE CROWN, THE NAMES HE HAS DIVULGED AND THEIR LINKS WITH ORGANISED CRIME IN HONG KONG, THE ICAC ASSESSMENT IS THAT IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE TO GUARANTEE HIS PERSONAL SAFETY AT LEAST INITIALLY IF HE IS IMPRISONED IN ANY NORMAL HONG KONG INSTITUTION. INDEED, THE ICAC HAVE RECEIVED INFORMATION THAT A LARGE REWARD HAS BEEN OFFERED FOR REID'S LIFE.
5. ACCORDINGLY, REID IS AT PRESENT HELD IN WHAT AMOUNTS TO SOLITARY CONFINEMENT IN THE ICAC DETENTION CENTRE. THERE ARE TWO PROBLEMS WITH THIS, ONE IS WHETHER KEEPING HIM DETAINED IN THESE CONDITIONS FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER 12 MONTHS PENDING THE TRIAL WILL SO AFFECT HIS PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH AS TO REDUCE HIS VALUE AS A WITNESS. THE MORE IMPORTANT IS THAT IF THREATS TO HIS LIFE APPEARED IMMINENT THERE MIGHT BE A NEED TO REMOVE HIM QUICKLY.
6. IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE ICAC CONSIDER THAT SECTIONS 2(A) AND (D) OF THE ACT MAY BECOME RELEVANT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
PAGE
SECRET
1