TNAG-0684-FCO40-833-Representations-about-Mr-Christopher-Clements-facing-murder--1977 — Page 36

Mr. J. Callaghan,

Prime Minister,

10, Downing Street,

London.

'Kendon',

Sandy Irne,

Little Bealings, Woodbridge,

Suffolk.

20th September 1977.

1223

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

I am writing to ask for your intervention into the case of a British seaman, Christopher Clements, 8, Edmonton Road, Kesgrave, Ipswich, Suffolk, who is being held on a charge of murder of a Chinese woman, in Stanley Jail, Hong Kong. He has been held, awaiting trial, since April this year and his case was to be heard Cctober/early November 1977. His parents have now heard that the case has been postponed until December.

Obviously I know you cannot interfere with the course of justice, the trial will (we hope) prove that Christopher is innocent, but please will you try to get something done about the conditions under which he is being held improved and endeavour to find out why he is being held without trial for such a long time. After all he has not been proved guilty and he is surely entitled to at least have plenty of mail, reading matter and personal needs such as cigarettes whilst he is being held awaiting trial.

The conditions under which he is being held are atrocious and it would appear from his letters that he requires medical attention as he was suffering from prickly heat which has turned into boils all over his body. Apparently he has been given some ointment which is quite anti-social because of the smell and other prisoners will not sit near him when he has used it. I have first hand evidence of the conditions in the jail as my son, who is a Merchant Navy officer, visited him in August when his ship was in Hong Kong. I quote from his letter:-

*

The

"...The prison is terrible. The cells are 5' x 8' with no fan

let alone air-conditioning, and Hong Kong is bloody hot and sweaty all the time. There are no exercise periods. Chinese warders are bastards. He says one screams at him through the bars. He is getting more recent mail now but not much at a time..... They also hold back most of the magazines

I asked the the padre from the Seamens mission brings him. warders how Chris was before I saw him. They said fine, he had many female visitors bloody liars, only Mr. and Mrs. Nicholls and the padre visit him.

-

Chris is hopeful that soon someone will pull some strings so he can do some work to pass the time. He gets 10 cigarettes a day rotten Chinese things, but they wouldn't let me give him the packet I had.....

11

Mr. Nicholls is the P. & 0. representative in Hong Kong.

1