TNAG-0820-FCO40-1027-Narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 161

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Nightingale herself;

iii) the attached memorandum deals with points in Mr David

Hallmark's letter and memo of 30 June and his letter of

6 July to Mrs Castle. It is passed to her on Privy

Councillor terms;

iv) the memorandum shows that we have already pursued our enquiries with the Hong Kong authorities a very long way and in fact it covers some of the questions in the new questionnaire. We are not however persuaded that to take the matter further on the basis of the questionnaire would produce any additional information relevant to Miss Nightingale's own situation and we are also doubtful whether this is the right way to proceed;

v) we will however bear in mind the points made in the questionnaire in the further consideration we shall be giving to the case;

vi) Mrs Castle's letter attributes to Mr David Lyman views

"on how he believes we can secure Rita's release". In his

discussions with us he did not indicate that he possessed a magic formula and it would be wrong to pin too many hopes on a diplomatic approach; we must also regard as strictly confidential the fact that we are contemplating

such a move;

vii) Mrs Castle will know, from what the Private Secretary told her in Blackpool, that the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs have warned us off petitioning for a Royal Pardon at this stage. Everyone (including Rita Nightingale herself) is agreed that further consideration of this should be left until after she has been seen to benefit

from a reduction in sentence under an amnesty.

10 November 1978

cc: w/out encl. to:

Mr Simons, SEAD

Mr McLaren, HKGD

Mr Whomersley, Legal Advisers

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