HC Deb 14 February 1967 vol 741 cc319-20
5. Mr. Patrick Jenkin

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs why he will not disclose to the hon. Member for Wanstead and Woodford the report of the Governor of Hong Kong into a series of allegations against members of the Hong Kong Police which had been made to the Secretary of State for the Colonies by Mr. Alan Ellis of 5, Portman Drive, Woodford Green, Essex, a former officer in the Hong Kong Police.

Mrs. Hart

It is not the practice to make public such reports on investigations into unfounded allegations. The hon. Member is aware of the reasons why the allegations are regarded as being without foundation.

Mr. Jenkin

This is exactly the point. If the report discloses that the allegations that have been made by this young officer are without foundation, why on earth cannot the report be made public? How do the Government expect people who have genuinely-felt grievances to accept these assurances in this atmosphere of secrecy?

Mrs. Hart

It is, as I think the hon. Gentleman will know, perfectly normal public policy in practice, not only in Hong Kong but also here, not to publish things of this kind if there has been found to be no truth in the allegations, for the simple reason that if there is truth in them, it is a matter for the courts, and if there is not, a great deal of harm is done to people who without foundation have been accused of these things. The case has been looked into by three Ministers, and the hon. Gentleman has had the relevant parts of the report read to him.

Mr. James Johnson

May I support the hon. Member for Wanstead and Woodford (Mr. Patrick Jenkin)? Is the Minis- ter aware—I think she is—that I was in Kowloon a few weeks ago? I told the Minister about my impression of that collony in our care. I have seen the Governor in Hong Kong and conveyed my impression to him. He has promised to look into the cases that I have put before him. I hope that the hon. Lady will bestir herself in the matter, because my impression is that it would do no harm for a Commission to visit Hong Kong.

Mrs. Hart

My hon. Friend is under a slightly false impression. I am being asked to publish a report on a particular matter, about which we are satisfied, after detailed inquiries, there is no foundation. That is a very different matter from the kind of point my hon. Friend has in mind.