TNAG-0490-FCO40-555-Allegations-of-bribery-and-corruption-in-Hong-Kong-police-an-1974 — Page 55

Mr Stuart

Mr. Youde

PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts

E

PETITIONS BY MR PUN TING CHAU

123

A

PROBLEM

1.

Mr Winston Churchill MP has written to Mr Hattersley,

enclosing a petition from Mr Pun Ting Chau in Hong Kong.

BACKGROUND

2.

Mr Pun has also addressed the same petition (dated

3 January 1974) to Lord Shepherd and to Mr Ennals. The copy

addressed to Mr Ennals reached the FCO on 26 April. I have

already referred it to the Governor.

3.

AS

In accordance with Dependent Territories Departmental

Practice, inhabitants of Hong Kong should submit petitions

through the Governor for his comments and recommendations.

well as being in accordance with precedent, this is a sensible

rule which enables petitions to be dealt with in an orderly way

and on the basis of full information. Very occasionally, when

an MP has raised a question of immediate and substantial

importance, we have short-circuited this process and dealt with

the matter directly ourselves; though even then we have

invariably asked the Governor for his comments.

such special features in the present case, and having started

the process by the normal procedure, we would only cross wires

if we tried to alter it.

There are no

RESTRICTED

/RECOMMENDATION