TNAG-0820-FCO40-1027-Narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 185

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the Hong Kong customs and police officials and strongly implies that the case was not properly investigated at the Hong Kong end. Several of the questions have little or no bearing on Miss Nightingale's own position, others are not for the Hong Komg authorities to answer. One or two might, however, be worth following up. However to go back to Hong Kong (for the third time) on the basis of the memorandum would cause con- siderable resentment while eliciting very little, if any, new information relevant to the case.

5.

(It

We have already examined

It is already part of our policy to examine the informa- tion supplied by the Hong Kong Government (some of which has been produced as the result of our own enquiries) to see whether any of it could be used in, support of a plea for

Lems our It supports Miss Nightingale's

cam

clemency by Miss Nightingale. version of events to the extent that we know now that

i) she was the tool of professional drug traffickers

because one of her associates, Chan, is now serving a 5-year sentence in Hong Kong for trying to recruit other girl couriers;

ii) her boy friend, Lewis Cheung, did in fact travel to Pari at the relevant time, presumably to meet her there;-

iii) she did not know Chan prior to their departure together

for Bangkok.

6.

Mrs Castle's letter overstates the position in referring to Mr David Lyman's "views on how he believes we can secure Rita's release". At my meeting with him on 3 October he revealed himself to be unfamiliar with the details of the case and bereft of any ideas as to how to handle it. to him our own thoughts

on the subject and he responded enthusiastically. He that the above points might enable

I put

us to construct a face-saving formula to present to the Thais and we are currently seeking the agreement of the Hong Kong Government to our using the information in this way.

S but not

if the /questions were

Carefully rewarded.

7. While we have told the defence lawyers that we will wish to work closely with them and to seek their advice on how we should support Miss Nightingale's plea, Mr Lyman's letter recognises that the initiative must lie with us. In the light of their anti-drug campaign, which has led to a move to introduce a mandatory death sentence for drug offences, involving quantities of heroin of over 100 grammes, the Thai So face real difficulties over any action they may take in the

/Nightingale