§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What compensation they have agreed to pay Mr Ng, a British national (overseas) passport holder who was arrested in August 1999 by Indian authorities and detained in prison after British consular officials told the authorities that his passport was a forgery; and whether they will inquire into the circumstances in which Mr Ng was freed by the intercession of Chinese consular officials. [HL4652]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanThe Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Mr Ng agreed the level of compensation and settled the claim in 2003. The amount paid is a private matter between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Mr Ng.
Chinese consular staff in Mumbai contacted the Hong Kong Immigration Department to advise officials there that they were having difficulties with the Indian authorities in securing Mr Ng's release. Staff in the British Deputy High Commission in Chennai subsequently confirmed Mr Ng's passport details to secure his release.