§ 20. Mr. Ronald Atkinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what circumstances the 11-year-old schoolboy, Lin Feng, was arrested in Hong Kong; what charges were preferred against him; what was the verdict and the sentence; and whether he is still in prison, and where.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsIf my hon. Friend has in mind a boy called Lan Fung, he was arrested in March, 1968, charged and convicted with riding a bicycle with a pillion passenger, obstructing the police and assaulting a police officer. He was given a complete discharge on the first two charges. On the third charge a small fine was imposed with the option of one day's imprisonment, but the time already spent on remand was accepted in lieu of this punishment.
§ Mr. AtkinsIs my hon. Friend aware, nevertheless, that there are a number of arrests and imprisonments in Hong Kong in circumstances which we would not tolerate in this country? Is it not imperative that we show our best, not our shoddiest, political goods in this shop window which is so close to the Chinese Republic, and which is watched so carefully by the Chinese people?
§ Mr. RobertsI do not think it could fairly be said that the measures taken in Hong Kong to maintain peace and security can be strongly criticised. The situations are created, not by the Government on Hong Kong but by others who have an interest in creating disturbances, and the kind of powers which the Government of Hong Kong feel obliged to adopt and to apply are applied with the utmost care and humanity.