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Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London S.W.1
17 August, 1973
Thank you for your letter of 25 July, forwarding a copy of the Hong Kong Federation of Students' letter to the Prime Minister.
To take the first point in the Federation's letter: although the Commission of Inquiry established that Mr. Godber was in control of financial resources totalling over HK$ 4.3 million, it is not true that any money was found in his car as alleged.
On the second point, how Mr. Godber acquired this wealth, the Hong Kong Police Force are vigorously pursuing enquiries.
When certain Hong Kong newspapers recently published the name of
as another target of official investigations, consideration was given to whether Section 30 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance had been infringed. This section makes it an offence to disclose to a person the fact that he is being investigated under the Ordinance, or to disclose to another person the identity of a person being investigated or details of the investigation. You will understand therefore that there is no question of an attempt being made by the Government to suppress freedom of speech in Hong Kong - it was simply a question whether a provision designed to prevent disclosures, which, by alerting the suspect, might frustrate an investigation, was applicable. However, as the man in question appeared in proceedings before a Magistrates Court, it was decided not to limit the freedom to report judicial proceedings provided for under the Judicial Proceedings (Regulation of Reports) Ordira nce, and no prosecutions are to be instituted.
A. Murray, Esq.,
Office of the Leader of the Opposition,
House of Commons,
S.W.1.
/Mr. Godber
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Copy to lol. Secretariat
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