TNAG-0397-FCO40-443-Problem-of-increase-in-crime-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 122

From the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

LAST

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Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London S.W.1

10 July, 1973

Thank you for your letter of 25 June enclosing the letter you had received from John Mackenzie in Hong Kong.

I hope that people in Hong Kong now understand the background to the ducision in the Tsui case. So far as our general policy towards Hong Kong is concerned, Hong Kong's fundamental interests must remain uppermost in all our consideration of problems affecting the Colony.

As for the question of the representations by Justin about the new courts legislation, ford Gardiner has inde written to Alec Louglas-Home on behalf of the Hong Kong Branch of Justice. Alec replied that the lawyers most. pressing concerns seemed to be met by the Governor's deg'. to adjourn the debate on the Magistrates (Amendment) Bil. The need for it could therefore be reconsidered in the 11 of the fact that two additional District Judgeships had verm been created. it seemed that the extra work load could w be carried by the District Courts and that no increase i the Magistrates' powers might be necessary, at least for me: time being. The Hong Kong Government had also accepted modifications to the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill the Public Order (Amendment) Bill, designed to clarify la scope of these new laws. In saying this we stressed thu these decisions had been made by the Governor in Hong Kong and in the light of circumstances in Hong Kong. The decisie must remain with him.

I hope this meets John MacKenzie's points. returning his letter.

I am

Anthony Royle

Nicholas Ridley, Esq., M.P.

House of Commons,

London, S.W.1.