5.
On 11th May 1973 he wrote to the Commissioner of
Police requesting that his departure date be advanced to 30th June
1973. This request was refused. He was informed that he might
vary his departure date 7 days either way from 20th July, but no
further. By then, the Commissioner was fully aware of the inquiries
being made by the Anti-Corruption Office; and this was the
determining factor in his refusal to accede to Godber's request
to be allowed to leave Hong Kong on 30th June 1973.
Mr. Godber's gross salary for the period 10th August 1952
to 31st May 1973 was 891,993.24. But, in this inquiry, I am more
concerned with his not salary i.e. what he received in his hand
after deduction at source of rent of quarters, widows and orphans fund, etc.). His total net salary for the whole period of his
service was 767,236.54. A schedule giving details of each year's
salary is attached to this report and marked "B".
Mr. Godber had a considerable amount of paid leave due
to him. His salary for the period 1st June 1973 to 27th March 1974 (the end of his accumlated leave) would have been 371,070.97.
Assuming Godber would live to be 70, he would have drawn
$605,208.81 i.e. in respect of the period 28th March 1974 to 7th April 1992, by way of pension.
If he had commuted one-quarter of his pension, he would have been entitled to take now 104,895, and for the period 28th March 1974 to 7th April 1992 (again assuming he lived to be 70), he would have drawn 453,906.61.
In June 1973, Godber lived in a Government quarter
Flat 14, Block "A", No.8 Caldecott Road.
The Police case against Mr. Godber
In late April 1973, Mr. Sutcliffe (the Commissioner) received confidential information that Godber was remitting money abroad. Through Ir. Dawson (the Deputy Commissioner), this
information was passed to r. Horrin, who had been appointed Director of the Anti-Corruption Office on 26th March 1973. The
initial investigations were carried out by Mr. Irvine.
For the past year or two, there has been an arrangement whereby the full-time services of a legal officer have been made
available to the Director of the Anti-Corruption Office; and on 1st May 1973 r. Penlington was appointed "Assistant to the