TNAG-0551-FCO40-646-Allegations-of-corruption-and-bribery-in-Hong-Kong-police-an-1975 — Page 45

布政司署

CON

ENTIAL

149

COLONIAL SECRETARIAT

LOWER ALBERT ROAD

HONG KONG

香港下亞

畢道

LAST

本署檔號 OUR RE .:

REF. CR L/M 247/75

128

PA

REXT

*Your Ref.:

REF.

162

17th July 1975

ย

Дет впись

12/8

RECEIVED IN

REGISTRY No.51 25 JUL 1975

Thank you for your letter reference HKK 14/1 of 27th June 1975 about Godber.

2.

the

As regards the writing of letters, Prison Rules provide that every prisoner is allowed to write and receive a letter on reception and there- after once every two weeks. Furthermore, if a prisoner does not receive a monthly visit to which he is entitled, he is permitted to write a letter and receive a reply instead of the visit. Godber has not received any

visits since he was imprisoned and is therefore entitled to write and receive three letters a month.

3.

The policy of the Commissioner of Prisons, for administrative and morale reasons, is to allow each prisoner to receive all suitable letters sent to him. Thus, though a prisoner is permitted to write only three letters a month, (or two if he receives a monthly visit), he is allowed to receive all letters addressed to him.

4.

In addition to the statutory entitlement, the Superintendent of a prison may allow a prisoner to write special letters for the purpose of making arrangements regarding his property or for any other special reason.

5.

It is obviously out of the question for Godber to be treated differently from any other prisoner in Hong Kong in this respect.

But you will see from the facts above that, as he does not receive a monthly visit, Godber is entitled to write three letters a month whereas Mrs. Godber has claimed that he is entitled to write only two a month.

6.

On Godber's possible transfer to the U.K., the legal position is governed by section 2 of the Colonial Prisoners Removal Act 1884. This provides that a prisoner may be removed to the U.K. if it appears to the Secretary of State, acting with the concurrence of the Hong Kong Government, that either:

B.H. Dinwiddy, Esq.,

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Department, Foreign & Commonwealth Office,

London, S. W. 1.

../

C.S. 41A

CONFIDENTIAL

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