CO129-613-6 Arrest of members of the Kwang Tung Provincial Peace Preservation Corps 10-1-1947 - 25-11-1947 — Page 14

(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).