HC Deb 02 November 1970 vol 805 c269W
Mr. Rankin

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will direct the Hong Kong Government, as an act of clemency, to free those long-term prisoners suffering from incurable illness.

Mr. Anthony Royle

No. The Hong Kong Prison Rules require the Medical Officer to make recommendations whenever he considers that the life of any prisoner will be endangered by his continuance in prison, or that any sick prisoner will not survive his sentence, or is totally or permanently unfit for prison sentence. The Governor has invariably released a prisoner on receipt of such a recommendation.