§ 37. Sir L. Plummerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what time elapsed between the application of Kou Teh-Lou, lately a cook at the Chinese Embassy, for political asylum and its being granted.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerAn application for permission to stay in this country was received on the 1st March and granted about a week later.
§ Sir L. PlummerMay I congratulate the Home Secretary on the speed he has shown in giving asylum to this lad, thus upholding the traditions of this country? Will he have conversations with the Secretary of State for Commonwealth 1467 Relations and point out that two British citizens who fled from the terror of South Africa into the Commission Territories had to wait a fortnight before it was announced that they would be given asylum? Ought not the Commonwealth Relations Office to follow the expeditious example of the Home Office?
§ Mr. ButlerThese matters are not on all fours because I have to follow a different practice in the United Kingdom. The rules and regulations have been known for a long time. There are very great difficulties in connection with the law relating to Protected Territories which are not the entire responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, but he has given his mind to the subject. I think he has shown as great humanity as he could under present circumstances.