TNAG-1994-FCO40-2841-Hong-Kong-extradition-laws-1989 — Page 54

1

255

Written Answers

Lorrain Esme Osman

23,

Dm/C Vol. 153(55)

Vol.1536

عقد

18 MAY 1989 Written Answers

HKD

Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long Lorrain Esme Osman. currently held in Her Majesty's prison, Pentonville, has been in custody; what grounds there are for Mr. Osman's continued detention; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg: Mr. Osman has been in custody since 7 December 1985. He was committed in custody by Bow street magistrates court on 1 June 1987 to await the Home Secretary's order for his surrender to the Hong Kong authorities under the provisions of the Fugitive Offenders Act 1967. Since then his surrender has been repeatedly deferred pending the outcome of applications for writs of habeas corpus and related appeals.

Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make available the request for extradition received from Hong Kong accompanying a warrant of arrest dated 30 November 1985 in respect of Lorrain Esme Osman.

Mr. John Patten: The request for Mr. Osman's extradition has been considered by the courts. The information provided to the courts in accordance with the Fugitive Offenders Act 1967 included the arrest warrant and supporting documents. It is not the practice to publish other communications about extradition cases.

Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy not to order Lorrain Esme Osman to be returned to Hong Kong until the English courts have completed their consideration of the effect of the decision by the Hong Kong Court of Appeal on 4 May 1989 quashing a warrant dated 30 November 1985 on the grounds that it was vitiated by bias; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. John Patten: Under the provisions of the Fugitive Offenders Act 1967 my right hon. Friend cannot order the return of a fugitive until any proceedings challenging the committal for surrender by the Bow Street magistrates, whether by way of an application for habeas corpus or an appeal arising from such an application, have been concluded.

Police (Deaths)

Mr. Shersby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in England and Wales have lost their lives in the course of their duty in each of the past five years for which figures are available.

Mr. Douglas Hogg: The number of police officers in England and Wales who were killed in the course of duty during each of the past five years is as follows:

1984

1985

1986

1987 1988

Number

15

7

9 11

In each of the years 1987 and 1988 one officer in addition to the above figures lost his life as a result of responding to criminal action while off duty.

Kid. unt)}

Passports

256

Mr. David Howell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints he has received during 1989 about delays in the renewal of passports held by United Kingdom citizens.

Mr. Renton: We have received about 250 letters of complaint about delays at the passport offices since the beginning of the year. Not all of these related specifically to applications for renewal or replacement of an existing passport.

Electronic Tagging

Mr. Cran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Beverley of 15 May, what he treats as legitimate uses to which electronic surveillance listening devices may be put as distinct from television-based devices.

Mr. Hurd: The Younger report on privacy referred to the use of equipment for aural surveillance in investigative and documentary journalism and in the observation of patients by hospital staff.

Firearms (Amendment) Act

Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to implement the remaining provisions of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988.

Mr. Hurd: I signed a commencement order on 17 May 1989 which will bring into effect the remaining provisions of the Act as follows:

Sections coming into force on 1 July 1989

Section 2

Section 3

Section 4

Section 5

Section 6 Sections 7(2)

and 7(3)

Section 11

Section 13(1)

Section 15

Section 19

Section 20

Section 23(4)

23(5)

23(6) Section 24(2)

(Re-definition of exempted shotguns)

(Grant and renewal of shotgun certificates) (Transfers of shotgun)

(Restriction on sale of ammunition for

smooth-bore guns)

(Shortening of barrels)

(Conversion of weapon to which section 1 of

the 1968 Act applies not to affect classification)

(Grant of co-terminous certificates) (Firearms dealers)

(Rifle and pistol clubs)

(Firearms and ammunition in museums)

(Removal of arms and ammunition to

Northern Ireland)

(Minor and consequential amendments)

(Expenses and receipts)

Sections coming into force on 1 October 1989 Section 17 Section 18

Section 23(8)

(Visitors' permits)

(Firearms acquired for export) (Repeal of section 14 of the 1968 Act)

Transitional arrangements have been made to allow owners of smooth-bore guns raised to section 1 control a period of seven months-from 1 July 1989 to 31 January 1990 in which to comply with the new controls. During this time they will have a number of options open to them. If they wish to retain the weapon in its existing condition they may apply for a firearm certificate, or a variation to an existing one, subject to the criteria laid down in the Firearms Act 1968 being met. They may continue to hold the gun on a shotgun certificate by adapting it so that it has

130 CW61/6 Job 1-11