CYPHER/CAT A
IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
SECRET
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELEGRAM NUMBER2248
SECRET.
9 DECEMBER 1968.
69A
YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 1643 : PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS.
74
TOP CORK
(I) NO. THE EXISTING EMERGENCY REGULATIONS DO NOT PREVENT CHARGES
BEING LAID IF ADEQUATE ADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE IS AVAILABLE TO
JUSTIFY THIS COURSE, IF BY QUOTE CHARGES LAID UNQUOTE ROYLE MEANS
QUOTE REASONS GIVEN UNQUOTE THIS HAS IN ALL CASES BEEN DONE, PLEASE
SÉE ALSO PARAGRAPH 3 OF MY TELEGRAM NO. 2235. ~168
(II) (A) OF 22 REMAINING DETAINEES, ALL OF CHINESE RACE, EIGHT
CLAIM TO HAVE BEEN BORN IN HONG KONG.
(B) IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF CONFRONTATION LAST YEAR AND WHEN
DEPORTATION WAS CAND STILL IS) IMPRACTICABLE, IT WOULD NOT HAVE
BEEN LOGICAL TO APPLY DIFFERENT LAWS AND PROCEDURES ACCORDING TO THE
ACCIDENT OF BIRTH COFTEN ITSELF INCAPABLE OF PROOF), THE OUTCOME OF
THEIR CHINESE COMMUNIST LOYALTIES AND COMMON SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES
WAS THE SAME FORM OF DETENTION FOR ALL. FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION A
FURTHER MAJOR DIFFICULTY WHICH WE SAW IN THE USE OF THE DEPORTATION
AND DETENTION PROCEDURE, BUT ONE WHICH COULD NOT BE PUBLICLY
DISCLOSED, WAS THE NEED TO PROTECT VITAL SOURCES OF INTELLIGENCE
WHICH COULD NOT BE GUARANTEED UNDER THE TRIBUNAL PROCEDURE. THE
RISKS TO PUBLIC SECURITY WERE TOO GREAT WHEN DEALING WITH CONFRONT-
ATION PRISONERS RATHER THAN WITH THE COMMON CRIMINALS IN NARCOTICS
AND TRIAD ACTIVITIES FOR WHOM THE TRIBUNAL PROCEDURE WAS MAINLY SET
UP.
CC) LAST YEAR AN UNDERTAKING WAS GIVEN TO THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE THAT THEIR NAMES WOULD NOT BE PUBLICLY REVEALED. AT
THAT TIME VARIOUS PROMINENT PERSONS WERE BEING THREATENED WITH
VIOLENCE AND TWO RADIO ANNOUNCERS WERE ASSASSINATED. FOR YOUR
PERSONAL INFORMATION THE NAMES ARE:
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER) AS CHAIRMAN WITH
(STAFF GRADE A
CASSISTANT
CBE
TO THE LAW OFFICERS) AS ALTERNATE CHAIRMAN SEMICOLON
CSOLICITOR AND FORMER MEMBER OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL) AND
ORE CBANKER AND MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES COMMISSION) AS MEMBERS.
SIR D. TRENCH
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
HONG KONG DEPT.
FAR EASTERN DEPT. NEWS DEPT. CONSULAR DEPT.
RECEIVED IN
LART
69A ARCHIVES MOMANCE COPIES SENT
10 DEC 1968
EMERGENCY UNIT
SECRET HIKIN
NEXI
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