TNAG-0109-FCO40-145-Detainees-and-prisoners-following-19671968-disturbances-1968 — Page 77

5

Secondly, while detainees have never been publicly accused, they

have nevertheless all been accused and their cases were most carefully

examined by law officers before detention orders were issued. Mr. Gray,

of course, has never been accused because it has never yet been suggested

that he ever did anything to offend.

Thirdly, detainees have all had a chance to appeal to an independent

Committee of Review; Mr. Grey has had no chance to plead his case before

any authority.

Fourthly, no one knows, loast of all Mr. Groy, when he may be

released. Detention orders are for one year and many detainees have been

released before the year was up. One has been re-detained for good cause

for one year and given a further chance to appeal to the Committee of Review.

Lastly, Mr. Groy has had one visit only during his incarceration.

Detainees in Hong Kong may be and are visited at least once a month by

relatives and friends and can be visited more frequently if the occasion

warrants, Nor are they held in virtual solitary confinement as Ir. Grey.

A Government spokesman said he could elaborate the dissimilarities

further but he believe the above is enough to answer Mr. Rear's highly

tendentious arguments.

"Nobody likes detention procedures, least of all the Hong Kong

authorities but at least they have boon used in Hong Kong with the greatest

moderation bearing in mind the scale and severity of events of 1967. At

the height of the trouble, the maximum number of detainees ever in custody

was 54 which compares very favourably with similar measures other governments

have found it necessary to take when subjected to similar but certainly no

more dangerous or violent situations," the spokesman emphasised.

-

0

16 ....