XN000022-1995-10-25 — Page 19

- 9

Assistance rendered to jailed tourist guide

The following is a question by the Hon Leung Yiu-chung and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Regarding the imprisonment of Mr Paul AU in the Philippines, will the Government inform this Council what assistance has been provided, and what measures will be taken, to facilitate his early release and return to the territory? Reply:

Mr President,

Mr AU was sentenced to life imprisonment on 29 November 1991 in the Philippines for drug trafficking. He lodged an appeal on 13 December 1993. The case is still awaiting resolution by the Supreme Court. The British Government with the full support of the Hong Kong Government has been pressing the Philippine Government for an early hearing and decision on the appeal.

Since December 1993, the British Embassy in Manila has repeatedly approached the Solicitor General of the Philippines to express concern of the British and Hong Kong Governments over the slow progress of the judicial procedure in the

case.

Ministers and senior officials from the British Government visiting the Philippines have also raised the case. In April 1995, during his visit, the Deputy Under Secretary of State of the Foreign Office expressed his concern to his counterpart in the Philippine Government over the slowness of the Philippine judicial system and the time taken to hear Supreme Court appeals.

During her visit in August 1995, the Minister for Overseas Development, Baroness Chalker raised Mr AU's case with the Philippine Foreign Secretary and appealed to the Philippine Government to expedite the judicial procedures. The British Ambassador in Manila wrote to the Secretary of Justice on 4 October 1995 to enquire about the progress of the case.