7.
He
The Hong Kong Attorney General has been consulted. has advised that the petitions ask for clemency solely on humanitarian grounds and that they raise no legal issues
which might justify an early release of prisoners. The
petitions have been considered by our Legal Advisers who
concur.
8. Although the petitions are dated June 1990, they were
not received in the Department until April 1991. This delay
was caused by the fact that the petitions were originally
sent directly to Buckingham Palace. The Palace then
re-routed them through Protocol Department to the Hong Kong
Government, who received them in October last year.
has therefore been no undue delay in this Department receiving the petitions and accompanying papers.
There
9. According to DSP Volume 8, Chapter 9.5 such petitions
must be submitted to the Queen either by a formal submission
signed by the Secretary of State in the case of important matters, or by a note from the Private Secretary to the
Queen's Private Secretary. In this case a Private Secretary
note would be appropriate. I attach a draft note recommending to the Palace that the petition be denied.
Gill Coglin
G J Coglin
I agree
PJYAUK/3
Page 120Page 121