TNAG-2501-FCO40-3639-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Commonwealth-countries-1992 — Page 39

CONFIDENTIAL

Human Rights

11. Singapore has an Internal Security Act (162) permitting detention without trial of people who are deemed to threaten

the security of the state. In May and June 1987, 22 people

were arrested under the 1962 Internal Security Act (the first

such arrests since 1982) and accused of belonging to a

clandestine Communist network aimed at the overthrow of the

government. The last two detainees were released in 1990, but one (originally jailed in 1966) remains under effective

house arrest.

12.

Francis Seow, former President of Singapore's Law

Society was also detained under the ISA on the grounds that he had helped foreign powers (specifically the United States)

to interfere in Singapore's foreign affairs. On 6 May 1988

in connection with this, the authorities requested the

withdrawal of a First Secretary at the American Embassy and

the Americans responded by requesting the withdrawal of a

Singaporean diplomat from Washington. However, the Singapore government has since declared its desire "to put this matter

behind us".

South East Asian Department

8 December 1992

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CONFIDENTIAL