From the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Rt Hon The Lord Goronwy-Roberts
My dear fim,
(i)
London S.W.1
25 March 1975
Please refer once again to your letter of 29 January to Jim Callaghan with which you enclosed correspondence from Mrs Elsie Elliott of 55 Kung Lok Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
PIA 97 26/3
You may be aware that Mrs Elliott's allegations concerning Mr Chan's case have been thoroughly publicised by the Hong Kong press. I think I can do no better than send you this correspondence and refer you to the Attorney-General's detailed rejoinders. Any case where a confession by a suspect subsequently turns out to be untrue is quite naturally a matter for concern and you will note from the Attorney-General's letter of 5 February to the Hong Kong Standard that while his office have taken the view that there was insufficient evidence to justify proceedings against the police officers in the case, lir Chan has been granted legal aid to bring a civil action against them; and that the Attorney-General has undertaken, if any further evidence supporting criminal proceedings emerges, to reconsider whether such proceedings should be instituted.
Might I also take this opportunity to reply to your supplementary question in the House of Commons on 19 February to Roy Hattersley about the number of possible prosecutions that have been dropped by the Attorney-General's office? It is not possible to give this figure so far as all criminal cases are concerned; but the Attorney- General assures me that Hong Kong practice follows English practice in such matters.
James Johnson Esq MP House of Commone !"
Cchied to bed Sec
Nowy Kon Ref 16
Кто
/However,
Tanks A 26/
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