CONFIDENTIAL
2
paragraph 11 of the document to which you refer, but each of these cells faces outwards on to a surrounding corridor which is lit by natural light from outside which can reach the inside of the cells through an aperture about 9"x 6" in the door of the cell.
5.
In your paragraph 4 you ask a number of questions concern- ing the release of prisoners or detainees, with particular reference to repatriation. The answer to your paragraph 4(a) is that on completion of the period of imprisonment or detention, persons released are able to return to their place of residence in Hong Kong. In a small number of cases of convicted prisoners, a Police Supervision Order may be made, the principal effect of which is that the person in question is required to report at stated intervals and for a given period to a Police station. With regard to your question about the disposal of persons released from prison who entered Hong Kong illegally, it is not the practice to attempt to remove such persons from Hong Kong.
6.
The answer to your questions in paragraph 4(b) and 4(c) is in the negative.
7.
If delegations visit the Hong Kong Red Cross to make representations concerning physical conditions of detention of prisoners, the intention is that officials of the Red Cross will receive them in reasonabla numbers and subject to their behaving in an orderly fashion, and that they will be prepared to hear any points that they wish to make. It is likely that the Red Cross officials would suggest to the delegation that they should also pursue their complaints with the prison or detaining authority, and they would also undertake to inform the authority that they had received a delegation.
If delegations were to visit other Government offices it would be the policy for them to be instructed to make their complaint to the appropriate detaining authority. Similarly, it is understood that should a delegation visit the office of the Honorary Delegate of the I. C.R.C. he would receive them and deal with them in such manner as he saw fit. It is not, however, considered that there is any obligation either upon any officials of the Hong Kong Government or any official of the Hong Kong Red Cross to direct delegations automatically to your office, though naturally if a request were made by a delegation either specifically or by implication to be put in touch with you, they would be told where you could be found, and you would be informed of this fact.
8.
Your final request concerns clothing said to be sent by the Chinese Red Cross, Canton Branch to be handed over to detainees. I regret to say that nothing is known about any such clothing, and so far as I am aware no offer of clothing for persons living in the Victoria Road Centre has ever been made. The position with regard to clothing in that Centre
/contd.
•
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.