IMMEDIATE
GPS 450
CYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 190633Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY
1973
N
3.
NKK
14/17
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 787 OF 19 JULY INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG
GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON (FCO PLEASE PASS).
YOUR TELEGRAM 698. PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION ON THE GODBER CASE.
ON THE ADVICE OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
(A) THE FIRST REPORT IS TO BE PUBLISHED:
(B) THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN IT ARE TO BE ACCEPTED:
63 20
68
(C) A PRESS RELEASE IS TO BE ISSUED AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION
ANNOUNCING THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND PUTTING THE
REPORT IN PERSPECTIVE, TO REASSURE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE VICOUR AND SINCERITY OF POLICE ACTION ON CORRUPTION, AND TO MINIMISE THE DAMAGE
TO POLICE MORALE.
2. WITH REGARD TO (C) THE POINT IS THAT THE TERMS OF REFERENCE
RESTRICTED THE REPORT TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH GODBER LEFT
AND THUS ESCAPED BEING BROUGHT TO COURT. IN THIS RESTRICTED CONTEXT
LESS THAN JUSTICE IS DONE TO THE SUCCESS OF THE POLICE IN USING THE
POWERS OF THE NEW ORDINANCE, FOR THE FIRST TIME, TO BUILD UP A
CASE AGAINST A HIGHLY PLACED SUSPECT.
3. PUBLICATION IS NOW TIMED FOR THE AFTERNOON OF 26 JULY,
FOLLOWING THE PRINTING AND TRANSLATION INTO CHINESE OF THE REPORT.
IT WILL BE TABLED AT LEGCO ON 1 AUGUST.
4. I PROPOSE THAT A BILL SEEKING TO AMEND THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY
ORDINANCE ON THE LINES OF THE COMMISSION'S FIRST RECOMMENDATION SHALL
BE PUBLISHED SIMULTANEOUSLY, WITH A VIEW TO ITS INTRODUCTION INTO
CONFIDENTIAL
/ AND