§ 27. Mr. M. Stewartasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any persons in Malaya, who have practised or encouraged the decapitation of dead bodies, have been identified: and what action will be taken.
§ Mr. HopkinsonOne of the men in the first photograph published has been identified. He did not however carry out decapitation, and no person who indulged in or encouraged decapitation has been identified. In any case, since orders have only recently been issued prohibiting decapitation of bodies for identification, no question arises of disciplinary action in the few cases that have occurred.
§ Mr. StewartWill the right hon. Gentleman agree that persons who are known or are subsequently discovered to have engaged in this practice should not be further employed with the British Forces?
§ Mr. HopkinsonAs at the time there was no order against decapitation, it is very difficult to institute disciplinary action of any kind more than a year after the events occurred.