Yes, of course, that is quite correct – apologies. Expediency. And with a tougher negotiator than Patten, would we have got a better deal? Possibly not……….

No, because the Treaty stipulated that Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997.

Where was he detained, then?

I have twice stood my ground on the pavement as a cyclist headed towards me and the look on the face as they realise that you are not actually going to give way is worth the risk of bing run over! And I write as a keen “ordinary” cyclist, wearing “ordinary” clothes – and who rides on the roads.

Maybe – but let’s wait and see. I appreciate that it is a topic which gets the blood behind the eyes.

His fresh start back in prison, you mean?

Whatever some people think should have happened to the two boys is irrelevant. The point is that it is quite clear that no further information will be forthcoming because Venables is likely to be prosecuted for a crime or crimes. Therefore everyone, including the Bulger family, is going to have to wait for that to happen and any amount of tabloid ranting or worse, ranting from disinterested individuals will not change the situation.

The crimes were heinous, of that there is no argument, and one of the murderers has probably re-offended and will pay the price. Before anticipating what might happen, let’s wait and see.

With that I could not agree more. Wasn’t there a proposal about this very matter from one or another government which either got nowhere in parliament or perhaps faced too much opposition from interested parties before getting that far? Or is it just wishful thinking on my part? I could imagine individual rights groups and the churches being unhappy about it. So long as the individual retained the right to opt out I cannot see the problem.