TNAG-0820-FCO40-1027-Narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 305

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4. During a discussion of the role Chan may have played Mr Hallmark continued to express disbelief at the fact that nothing had been previously known about Chan's involvement in drug traffick- ing. Dr Owen said that Mr Hallmark might be right in thinking that there was more to it than a chance interception at the airport. He accepted that the Hong Kong police did not enjoy a high reputation for incorruptibility but invited Mr Hallmark to read the documents he was prepared to make available. In his view the evidence in the papers seemed to be more against Miss Nightingale. However the real point was what should be done. He accepted that if new evidence could be produced which reinforced Rita Nightingale's claim to being duped by known drug traffickers, it might permit us to go to the Thais at the diplomatic level with an appeal for clemency and after a reasonable period she might be got out, particularly if we could show that she had been set up and was simply a cog in the wheel.

Mr Hallmark said he did not think the Thais would accede to

diplomatic pressure but they would entertain fresh evidence if it

could be produced. Dr Owen said that he believed the Thais had amnesties from time to time. Any intervention would however need

to be left until the right time when all judicial procedures had

been concluded.

5. Mr Duncan said the latest information was that the result of

the appeal would not be known until the end of the year. A third application for bail had been made last week and £20,000 was now being offered. He was not optimistic about the result which was expected in two weeks time.

6. Dr Owen gave copies of the Hong Kong documents to Mrs Castle with the request that she should return them as soon as she and

Mr Hallmark had read them.

7. Mrs Castle then raised the question of financial assistance to help Miss Nightingale to meet her legal expenses. She said she could easily raise more money by public appeal but did not want to

do so for fear of prejudicing Rita's case. Mr Hallmark said that if there were further investigations in Hong Kong this would cost money. Dr Owen said there were no funds. Mr Duncan said that only in an extreme case, where the person concerned had no resources and no free legal aid was available, would the office be prepared to pay.

/Rita

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