Detention Orders

21.

Mr. Emrys Hughes
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many persons have been arrested since the commencement of the anti-bandit campaign; and how many are still in custody.

Mr. J. Griffiths
Since July, 1948,25,482 detention orders have been issued in Singapore and the Federation of Malaya. Ten thousand eight hundred and fifty seven persons were still in detention on 31st May, 1950.

Mr. Hughes
Can the Minister tell us under what conditions these 10,857 people are held, and whether they are to be tried? Are they held in prisons or concentration camps?

Mr. Griffiths
They are detained in camps.

Mr. Harrison
Will the Minister tell us whether consideration is being given to deporting a considerable number of these people to make conditions easier in Malaya?

Mr. Griffiths
The possibility of repatriating to China those who are Chinese was given my urgent consideration while I was in Malaya.

Mr. Sorensen
Is not it a fact that some thousands of Chinese have been deported to China?

Mr. Griffiths
Yes, Sir.