TNAG-0112-FCO40-148-Detainees-and-prisoners-following-19671968-disturbances-1969 — Page 76

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Mr. Moreton

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Parliamentary Office

The attached late question by Mr. Royle, for reply on 17 February, was intended to be "helpful"; and Mr. Royle was hoping that it might be joined with another Question by

Mr. Frank Allaun, which is down for answer on the same day and which reads as follows :

2.

"To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth

Affairs if he will make a statement on the practice of locking-in in the Hong Kong prisons; for what periods prisoners are subjected to this treatment; and how many of those detained following the demonstrations of 1967 are at present undergoing this treatment?"

The Linister has already approved the reply to the above Question.

With the best will in the world, I do not see how these two Questions can possibly be joined. Mr. Royle's Question is clearly designed not to elicit information, but to draw attention to the fact that he recently visited the prisoners and detainees in Hong Kong and to give him an opportunity of asking Supplementaries. Since the two questions cannot be joined, it will be necessary for Mr. Royle's question to be dealt with separately. Since it was put down late, it will not be reached and will therefore receive a written reply. In these circumstances, and in view of the recent series of Parliamentary Questions on the subject of convicted prisoners and detainees in Hong Kong, it might be advisable for a somewhat longer reply to be given than is normal. The attached draft reply has been prepared with this in mind.

3. Prisoners and detainees have twice been visited by a representa- tive of the International Red Cross (at his request no publicity has been given to these visits). Copies of his reports are attached; they corroborate the factual details given in the draft reply. With his consent the reports have been shown in confidence to Mr. James Johnson, M.P., but we have been expressly asked not to refer to the reports publicly.

4.

The Parliamentary Office have stated that Notes for Supplementaries will not be required.

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1 February, 1969

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