TNAG-0198-FCO40-234-Prevention-of-bribery-bill-1969 — Page 57

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

Mr. Gamumaa

J

suggest

K271

that Gorana be

informs that there would be no.

R&R on Corruption ofice

AMG 2219.

objection to this change being withdead

generally at the same time

introduced

As intradneed

in England,

1519/09

at futter Baller

19/9

HOME OFFICE,

WHITEHALL,

S.W.1.

19th September, 1969.

Dear grattan- Bellew,

Thank you for your letter of yesterday about the

proposed Hong Kong legislation.

The Criminal Law Revision Committee, who are reviewing

the law of criminal evidence, do propose to recommend that

the right of the accused to make an unsworn statement (as

distinct from his right, if unrepresented, to address the

court in his defence) should be abolished. Last year they

circularized the legal profession about the recommendations

which they were considering making on this and other matters,

and most of those circularized agreed with the proposal. I

have no doubt that the committee will recommend accordingly,

though of course nothing is certain till they report (which

I very much hope will be within a year).

The committee's competence is limited to the law of

England and Wales.

It does seem to me curious to abolish the right in

respect of certain offences only.

-RECEIVED IN

h.5། (2 OCT 1969

LAST

***

your sincerely,

G.V. Hart

Sir Arthur Grattan-Bellew, C.M.G., Foreign and Commonwealth Office, S.W.1.

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