(F. 14520/376/10)
RESTRICTED
R.531
May on the
Mine.
بیا
146
FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1.
30th October, 1947.
31/10
Dear Mayle,
(5) Thank you for your letter 54297/1/47 of the
·
29th October about the two members of the Kwangtung Peace Preservation Corps now serving sentences of imprisonment in Hong Kong.
I see no objection to your suggested action, and I agree that generally speaking political considerations should be excluded in considering sentences for criminal offences wherever committed. But it is, you know, a very Oriental practice to pardon criminals on special occasions and anniversaries, and I do not think British authority loses in prestige by conformity with that practice. As regards your secondly, it is now nearly twelve weeks since George Yeh's outburst, and I venture to think that to release the men now would not be connected in any way with that display. Indeed, I would go so far as to suggest that Princess Elizabeth's wedding day might be a suitable occasion to announce the remission of the balance of the sentences being served by these two rapscallions. I am always in favour of "discarding "from strength, not weakness".
N.L. Mayle, Esq.,
Yours sincerely,
Colonial Office.
Auscott
(A.L. Scott).