CO129-598-4 Salaries Commission 11-1-1947 - 5-12-1947 — Page 31

31

13th October, 1948.

53712/18/48 H. K. & Pac.

16

Dear Sir Alan,

I enclose, to be laid before the king, a petition from Mr. Chuang Chu zen, merchant of HonŁ Kony, appealing for the remission or reduction of the sentence of imprisonment passed upon his song

Chong Tong die by a General Military Court in Hong

ong on the 24th March.

You will notice that the petition is addressed to His Majesty's Frincipal Secretary of State for the Colomies. 1 should, therefore, explain that the petitioner's Solicitors were informed that my Secretary of State had received and considered their client's petition, but that the prerogative of mercy has been delegated to the Governor by His Majesty the King and that this is nut & matter in which my Secretary of State would intervene. The Solicitors then replied asking that the petition should be regarded as an appeal to His Majesty from a refusal by the Governor of Hong Kong to exercise the prerogative of mercy. My Secretary of State 18 advised that in the circumstances it would now be suitable so to treat the petition.

My Secretary of State would propose, if His Majesty approves, to inform the petitioner that his petition has been laid before the king, but that the Secretary of State was unable to advise His Majesty that the petition should be

ranted.

Yours sincerely,

(sga) N.D. WATSON.

Private Secretary.

The night Honourable

Sir alan Lascelles,

G.C.V.O., K.☺.B., C.L.G., M.C.