TNAG-0820-FCO40-1027-Narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 313

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MEETING BETWEEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE RT HON MRS BARBARA CASTLE MP TO DISCUSS MR DAVID HALLMARK'S LETTER OF 26 APRIL 1978 ABOUT MISS RITA NIGHTINGALE

SPEAKING NOTE

1.

2.

In his letter of 26 April Mr Hallmark proposes:-

(a) that the Department should consider providing funds

for a private investigation of Miss Nightingale's

allegations that she was an innocent and unsuspect-

ing carrier of dangerous drugs;

(b) for the appropriate Hong Kong Government file to

be made available.

With regard to (a), under existing rules public funds can only

be used for the legal expenses incurred in the defence of a United

Kingdom citizen overseas where no local free legal aid is available

and no funds are available from other sources. Such advances are

made against undertakings to repay. In Miss Nightingale's case,

Mr Albert Lyman, the senior partner of Messrs Tilleke and Gibbins,

the legal firm who are representing her, has said that he has no

intention of charging her legal fees. We know that Miss Nightingale'

has a fair sum of money at her disposal. We believe that she already

has over £1,000 in her Bangkok bank account, the Portia Trust are

said to have raised some £2,000 for her legal expenses and Dr Haas

has obtained £20,000 from a European Medical foundation to be

available for bail.

3. With regard to (b), we understand Mr Hallmark is referring to

the Hong Kong Customs Department file. Mr Hallmark suggests that

there were sinister motives behind the implication of Rita

RESTRICTE!)

/Nightingale