21
had a fairly good idea as to his identity
-
Godber's
name had
not been published. Clearly, this was due to the inhibiting effect of s.30 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance which
reads:-
"30. ny person who, without lawful authority
or excuse, discloses to any person who is the subject of an investigation in respect of an offence alleged or suspected to have been committed by him under this Ordinance the fact that he is subject to such an investigation or any details of such investigation, or discloses to any other person either the identity of any person who is the subject of such an investigation or any details of such an investigation, shall be liable on conviction to a fine of $20,000 and to imprisonment for one year."
The result was that between the 4th and the 11th June, no Government Department could divulge the fact that the police investigation regarding Godber had reached an advanced stage; and, equally, the Press were precluded from mentioning Godber's name, even if, through their own efforts, they know that Godber was under investigation.
Therefore, I cannot presume that anyone was on the lookout for Godber. The Immigration officers, of course, should
have been on the lookout for anyone who presented a passport
no.57699 and bearing the photograph of the holder. But that is all. And it is a fact that no one has been found who actually saw Godber enter any restricted area on 8th June 1973.
I have myself visited Kai Tak Airport; and I am clearly of the opinion that, armed with his official permit, there were a number of ways in which Godber could have reached the transit/departure lounge without passing through Immigration Control in the normal way. But, in my view, his most probable route was through the west gate (gate no.5) which is near the V.I.P. Room. The main gate at that point is kept shut to vehicles most of the time; and a pedestrian must pass through the narrower gate where there should be a police constable on duty. However, Mr. Sccats, Counsel for the Commission, informed me that when he visited the airport when interviewing witnesses,
on one occasion he walked through this small gate, unaccompanied