TNAG-1996-FCO40-2843-Hong-Kong-Drug-Trafficking-(Recovery-of-Proceeds)-Ordinance--1991 — Page 319

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MkD 385/2 нко

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132656 MDLIAN 4075

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FM KUALA LUMPUR

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 290

OF 26073OZ MAY 89

DERRICK GREGORY AND HONG KONG 8

parh

1. I, AND 1ST SEC (CONSULAR) CALLED ON THE NEW GOVERNOR OF PENANG ON 23 MAY TO PRESENT OUR PLEA ON BEHALF OF BOTH GREGORY AND THE HONG KONG 8.

2. ON GREGORY'S CASE WE COVERED THE SAME GROUND AS WE HAD DONE

IN OUR PLEA FOR COMMUTATION OF THE DEATH SENTANCE TO THE PREVIOUS GOVERNOR IN AUGUST 88. THE NEW GOVERNOR ACCEPTED A

COPY OF OUR SPEAKING NOTE (YOU ALREADY HAVE A COPY OF THE ONE HANDED OVER EARLIER WHICH REMAINS UNCHANGED IN ALL IMPORTANT RESPECTS) TOGETHER WITH OUR FORMAL NOTE TO THE MFA OF 6 JULY

88.

3. IN THE CASE OF THE HK8 WE

OUR FORMAL NOTE OF 22 MAY 89

COPY FOLLOWS BY BAG.

HANDED OVER A COPY OF

YOUR TELNO 16 OF 10 MAY REFERS,

4. THE GOVERNOR CONFIRMED THAT HE WOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION

THE POINTS THAT WE HAD MADE TO HIM TOGETHER WITH THE POINTS WHICH MAY LATER BE PRESENTED TO HIM BY THE PARDONS BOARD.

5. IN THE COURSE OF CONVERSATION THE GOVERNOR MENTIONED THAT

THE DATE OF THE SITTING OF THE PARDONS BOARD TO CONSIDER GREGORY'S CASE WOULD BE 8 JUNE. PLEASE PROTECT. WE CANNOT PUBLICLY STATE WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED OFFICIALLY, AND WE STRONGLY ADVISE AGAINST LETTING THE PRESS OR ANY OTHER INTERESTED PARTY

KNOW OF THIS. WE RECOMMEND THAT OUR LINE WITH GREGORY'S

FAMILY IS THAT WE HAVE HEARD UNOFFICIALLY THAT THE PARDONS BOARD IS LIKELY TO BE CONSIDERING GREGORY'S CASE EARLY JUNE.

IN THE EVENT OF AN ADVERSE DECISION THERE MAY ONLY BE A FEW DAYS (16 IN THE CASE OF BARLOW AND CHAMBERS) BEFORE THE SENTENCE IS PUT INTO EFFECT. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT THE FAMILY

MAINTAIN THEIR POLICY OF SILENCE ON ANY MATTER CONNECTED WITH THEIR SON, AND, IN PARTICULAR, CONCERNING THE SITTING OF THE BOARD.

6. IF ONE OR SOME OF THE FAMILY WISH TO VISIT GREGORY AFTER

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