TNAG-0030-FCO40-66-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 59

a

considerable

amount cong

After all our research the

Department here produced a draft letter

only to advise that

on the subject

we do not send it. The reasons,

briefly, are set out below:-

you

from- dony

I. The concept of suspended sentences

II.

is that the convicted person

does not go to prison at all,

the Courts suspending the sentence

at the time it is pronounced.

The release of prisoners on

licence has been associated both

here and in the colonies with

the problem of long-term habitual

offenders and recidivists serving

periods of preventive detention.

III. Hong Kong could not introduce

either measure for use merely

when it may be expedient to

release "political" prisoners

or not send them to prison.

The measures would have to be

introduced as a comprehensive

step forward in the treatment

of offenders. This would be a

radical step forward and timing

is important. Other territories

would also have to be invited to

WA

/consider

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN