co-1030-6-emergency-regulations-in-hong-kong — Page 7

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All decisions made by a Committee

ity vote.

shall be by a majority vote.

29

3

APPENDIX.

FORM

EMERGENCY (REVIEW OF DETENTION ORDERS) RULES, 1956.

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO

MAKE OBJECTIONS TO A DETENTION ORDER.

30

[.3

To the Superintendent.

I hereby give notice that I wish to make objections against a

detention order dated

COUNCIL CHAMBER,

1958.

(Signed)

(Date)

Clerk of Councils.

yu

Aw 490

24.3.524

2

Mr Harris

(1) should be noted in therwise ? ack as

Library (Legal),

in d. h.

-12/4

NoHam's

13/4 dum

2

HoMG

KONG DES 593

15-L-SZ

·

Seenet

cel 320

3 ye

(Flag "A~)

requires

7MM

·

(Flag")

Mr. Barton

Kr. Hopkinson

Mr. Harris

Emergency Regulation. 116A (copy at No. 1QA on 14237/15/51) authorises
the death penalty for conviction for:-

(a) Carrying or posse. sing without lawful authority a bomb,

grerade, mine or other similar apparatus; or

(b) Using or attempting to use arms, ammunition or explosive

substance against any person or property even if that use does not cause
death or injury.

The regulation was enacted in 1950 and has remained in force ever since.
It was, however, only after considerable hesitation that the Secretary
of State yielded to the pressure from Hong Kong for its enactment, and
stipulation was made that its continuance in force should be reviewed
and would require the Secretary of State's approval every six months.

2.

The last six-monthly approval by the Secretary of State expired on the
19th April and as you will see from (3) opposite it had unfortunately
'passed unnoticed" in Hong Kong.

3.

6-monthly

If my interpretation is correct, the regulation itself remains legally
in foros, since the review was a purely administrative matter between
the Secretary of State and the Governor, no time limit being written
into the proclamation of the regulation. I assume therefore that no
legal difficulty will arise as a result of Hong Kong's oversight.

40

The fact, however, that the 6-mont ly review was overlooked in Hong
Kong, together with a certain casualness, which I hope I am not
uncharitable in detecting in the belated request for approval at (3), is
somewhat disturbing.

5.

Since Sir Thomas Lloyd's minute 15/4 on HKP.488/85/01,

/minutes

|

(Flay "C")

minutes on the subject in this office have repeatedly drawn attention to
the danger of this exceptional regulation coming to be regarded as
normal in Hong Kong and the periodic renewal of the Secretary of State's
approval becoming automatic.

6.

7*

We have, therefore, two points for consideration;-

(a) Whether the Secretary of State's approval should

be renewed until October of this year.

(b) What, if anything, should be said about the

belated request for this approval.

As far as (a) is concerned we have on the last two occasions given
attention to the deterrent or otherwise effect of the regulation as
shown in the statistics for the crimes concerned. The up-to-date
statistics are not given in the telegram opposite but will follow by
savingram. Unless, however, there is a very marked change in the number
of crimes covered by the regulation it is difficult to draw any firm
inferences from them. The situation remains in fact very much as
sumarised by Sir John Paskin in his minute 10/10 on HKP.488/85/01. The
political situation in the Far East has not changed radically since that
minute was written and I can there- fore see no strong reason for
refusing Hong Kong's request for continued approval of the regulation.

8.

As far as (b) is concerned I think we might do well to send out to the
Governor a despatch setting forth in some detail the importance which is
attached here to the need for careful and frequent review of the
regulation, and expressing concern lest this importance be overlooked in
the Colony. have not in fact revealed our thinking on the subject to
Hong Kong since the regulation was first enacted.

9.

We

The se papers have not been seen by Ministers since April 1953 and
should perhaps be seen by them again either now or in October this year
when the next review would be due.

10.

? As in draft herewith and re-circulate for despatch.

I

(I MLittler)

12th May 1954.

am afraid I think that Events in

budo China Mush affect policy wrands Western

the Far East in a

Rai

in

Cheners

habos

harmful

may a that there Extraordinary fronces should remain unts we "I know
where we que

Juan Salon

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minute,

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4

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that

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authority for the continuance of this Regulations.

in

in force

J. 8. Haplemen

12.5

I see no med to await the savingam promist in (3)

before exposing

He

cantinames in fores of Emergency

Regulation 116A, since the

not rest on

statistical licence

for reneval does

but

generally disturbed political situation in the for

Est.

1. I

hyper

Hash Hing King showed be warned not to

regard there renewals a

automatic

don't weather w

wand

Vanch

desport for this purpose.

3.

My

to the telegram

Inch I separate

To have suggested

feeling is that the continueres of

this Regulation should be reviewed at yearly

witead

Z

at b-mathy intervals. then require the Govenor to submit

appreciation of the situation

We could

fuller

the wild

be aspopriate may present arrangements

near to me

that six-monthly reviews

much too frequent

and tend to

to become

It

(se for as Hong Kong is concerned) mutter of form.

Hay

Witami

1315.

this day what

ཌ་ ་ ་ ་

Sir John Martin.

I agree that we should approve the continuance in force of Emergency
Regulation 116A for a further period of six months from 19th April.

As regards the history of this Regulation, I would refer to Mr. Harris'
minute of 14.10.52 on HP 488/85/01; you should also be aware of Sir
Thomas Lloyd's minute of 15.4.53 on that file. But with other
possibilities in view, of which you are aware, this is not the time in
my opinion to loosen up at all I do not think that we need wait for the
promised savingram containing up-to-date figures before approving
continuance for a further period of 6 months from the 19th April.

I have some sympathy with the suggestion contained in paragraph 3 of Mr.
Harris' minute of 13.5 on this file for a yearly rather than a
six-monthly review, but on the whole I should prefer to leave it to the
Governor to suggest a review less frequently than at six-monthly
intervals, and hiding case Itzid that thirst review should be in Octo
when the siluating arising out of the freva conference

be aronhit clarified.

[they

S&C. Jeffnes

JBs...

14. 5. 1954.

Notess costuming than when you miniated on 14.10.53,

this is not the moment

Reculation; but there is

Ե

dosh the

much uncertanto

about the future developments in the For Ent

and, though a sudden

unlikely,

improvement is

we need not at forsent distant the

bractice of half park review.

bara 2 of off.

lagne with

? les proposed

JMM15/3

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6.8.8.17/5

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Judy 18

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Асло 177 Де

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-gives

Mr Harris

an

(5)

gives

argument

14.5.54

ва

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recent figures fr caimer involving arms

the statistics promised in (3)

مه

tave

yle have

in support of continuance of Emergency Regulation 116A in force. already
approved continuance in force at (4) and have asked for a full report
before the next renewal of approval is considered In the wroumstances
(5) is largely

academic, and I think we need not examine it closely until the next full
report is received.

? but by

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Mr. Sicbotham

I

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(5) but you

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further notion neadd be taken

should be

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recently

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under

do not

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H

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in

here as

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how many

this Regulatio.

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yourner for

He quatim ever

Jess one

har

It we

executed

E.R. 116A

This

anow

be

We will

look out for

report of the appeal in

H.K. newspapers.

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Mr. Barks

صراف

Mr Harrislio

Mr Pack

ка. сеть 5/5

At (8) the 0.A.G. seeks approval for retaining

116A in force for a further Emergency Regulation period of six
months from 19th October 1854. The "background to this excroise is given
in 12/5 above.

2.

my

minute

Opinion in the C.O. had hardened somewhat

too casual against what appeared

to the

approach to it in "Hong Kong. This was responsible for para 2 of our
telegram at (4)

3. x/ of (8) suggests that Hong Kong had

been guilty of relaxation of the care with which such legislation ought

to be examined.

in fast

regularly

4

I su

no

point in seeking to analyse

I the

7

F

copy

at (lon

14237/15/51

2.

E.R. 116.8, should

the facts and figures given in (8). The conclusion

quite simply that the situation is unchanged, and policy in respect of
therefore be unchanged. Furthermore of appreciable change in the
situation foreseen.

siger

8

5. One further point in (8) deserves noting,

in the Colony at of the reference to opinion

to, indeed on the whole suffarting, as not objecting the retention of
the Emergency Regulation.

it suma

we

6. Viewed in the context of Hong Kong alone,

must accept beyond doubt that the O.A.Ç.'s recommendation, supported by
Ex. Co. Unless, therefore, there are contrary arguments bance on current
policy towards Comerginos Legislation of this type in general, I think
we must give approval.

? As in dift.

hu

I

i

Shilla 5/10

Nr.

The background

minute of 12/5/54

on this file.

to C is given in Mr. Littler's

abo

Please are

N* Sidebottan's minute

$ 14/5/54.

The braic grounds

which

presionely have approved

the continuance in force of *E.R. 116^ are

at / in

53 m

10/10/53

at out

Mr. (now Sir John) Puskin's minute of

HKCP 488/55/01

and security point of vicar

From

A

political

the situation has

and subject

I

not undergone any

my

radical change

L

observatime

wit to make

may think that

You may

mmt

advise He

onct

We

again

S.qs. that

force

ER 116A should remain in

for a furthy period of six months, at least

Draft how.

3.

Jasm and am

Erateful to Mo Harris

for his milite above giving references

to sceline pp.

J.A.8.

9141

Яннамай

7/10

!

Sir Charles Jeff

I agree with the conclusion reached in the fore- going minutes that
Emergency Regulation 116A, should be continued in force for a further
six months.

So far as Hong Kong is concerned the situation has not undergone any
radical change; the only thing that has happened is that the Chinese
have placed their relations with us on a more satisfactory basis by
recognising our representative at Peking. But on the other hand, there
is a possibility, of which you are aware, that the security situation in
Hong Kong itself may be rendered more difficult in the near future if
certain decisions are takon, which in my view emphasizes the
undesirability of any relaxation in security measures at present.

I assume that you will wish to send this on to Ministers.

9.10.1954.

I agree that this renewal should

be approved.

дара.

Oct 14

61.7.10/10

9

9

HOME

KONG SAV 1605_PTY_ESECRET_ 16__10_52_

1

10/14/55

sitiss

In Rigen

Any funder actin

minute of 23/5 he?

Apoke with Mr. Harris.

KD. Clark'

When the question of rencuring approval of E.R. 116A next arises (this
will be April 1955) we should take the opportunity to ask how

sentences have been passed under the regulation since it first

came into force.

marry

15/10

10

Ju

Mr Harrie

(10) is a

reminder

tre 846 s

19.10 54

10

You.

from Hong Kong about (8).

Я сво

Since (9) was sent several days ago, not think

we need telegraph in reply to (0).

might

2. I suggest, however, that next time the question of renewing approval
arises, we reply by telegran if the time-limit is short. ? but by.

I attend a dragt in case

ought to accomledge (10)

19/10

Mr. Sidek. Then Thinker

+

Янчиний

14/10. yes.

25710 al-

Kh linele (9)!

Pirin Millican-thin

fillitseid te ontd

LIL every

Prit

This should

7

:mmins?

be referred

widong Kong

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