THE Governor, Chris Patten, is monitoring the case of a Hong Kong girl recently sentenced to death in Singapore for drug trafficking.
In a letter to her father, the Governor described the case of 21-year-old Poon Yuen-chung as a ''sad'' one.
''We are aware of your daughter's case and have been kept closely informed by the British High Commission [BHC] in Singapore of her arrest and the progress of the legal proceedings against her,'' the letter read.
It said it would not be appropriate for Mr Patten to intervene when judicial proceedings were still going on in Singapore.
The letter said: ''The Governor fully understands your feelings and we are in touch with BHC Singapore to monitor developments of the case to see what possible assistance we can provide to Yuen-chung in the meantime.'' Poon was arrested in Singapore's Changi Airport for smuggling 3.06 kilograms of heroin. She will face death by hanging if her appeal and her submission for clemency to Singapore president, Ong Teng Cheong, fail.
In a heart-rending letter, Mr Poon appealed for Mr Patten to join in his campaign to save his daughter by writing to Mr Ong.
His emotional plea was forwarded to the Government House through the Sunday Morning Post this month.