HKIS 385/2
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY RO. 51 2 2 AUG 1978
HOURS
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М. Пипирет
in Quantum ofi
ENADETING BETWEEN THE FOREIGN SECRETARY AND THE RA
CASOLE MP AT THE HOUSE OF COMMONS AT 1210 15 UST 1978
Present:
The Rt Hon Dr D Owen MP Mr A H Grey
MISS RITA NIGHTINGALE
1.
The Rt Hon Mrs Barbara Castle P
Mrs Castle explained that she was now under very consider- able pressure to be seen to be doing something about the case of Miss Rita Nightingale. She would like to agree with Dr Owen what could be said publicly and to the Press.
2. Dr Owen made clear, and Mrs Castle fully agreed, that the latest activity by the Portia Trust was extremely unhelpful both to Miss Nightingale herself and to those trying to help her. Dr Owen emphasised that it was still essential to avoiä action or statements liable to provoke the Thai judicial authorities into continuing the appeal process. Nothing should be done until the period during which further appeal could be lodged had elapsed on 20 August.
3. It was agreed that Mrs Castle should say that she had seen the Foreign Secretary again, make the point about the need to await the conclusion of the judicial procedure and add that she was concerned about certain aspects of the evidence in the
case and of additional information she had received. Dr Owen would be writing to her later this month.
4. Dr Owen agreed to give very serious consideration with FCO lawyers to what could be done with the analysis of evidence from Hong Kong. He would examine the possibility of developing a case which the British Government could raise with the Thai
Government once the appeal procedure had been exhausted and would write to Mrs Castle after 20 August.
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