CONFIDENTIAL
(204)
CPD 263
IMMEDIATE
CYPHER/CAT-,--
(HK) KI
In
AN FOD 1919552
(248)
CONFIDENTIAL
PERSONAL
TO IMMEDIATE GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELNO 1931 OF 15/18./13
PERSONAL TO GOVERNOR FROM HR ROYLE.
(246)
YRTELNOS. 1178 AND 1188: FUGITIVE OFFENDERS ACT.
1. PARAS 2 AND 3 OF YOUR SELCOID TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE:
I TAKE ALL YOU SAY ABOUT THE PROBABLE REACTION TO A DECISION NOT TO
AMEND THE LAW. AS YOU KNOW MY DECISION THAT WE COULD NOT DO SO TO
CATCH COBBER WAS TAKEN WITH THE GREATEST RELUCTANCE AND IN THE LIGHT OF UNANIMOUS VIEWS OF THE LAW OFFICERS, THE WHIPS AND THE HOME OFFICE WE WILL LOOK AGAIN AT THE POSSIBLITY OF A CHANGE ON GENERAL GROUNDS WHICH WOULD NOT BE RETROSPECTIVE IN FORM AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT CATCH GODDER. I AM NOT TOO HOPEFUL, BUT I AGREE WE SHOULD NOT WRITE OFF THE POSSIBILITY NOW. I ALSO AGREE THAT, UNTIL THE LATTER DECISION. I TAKEN, WE NEED NOT ANNOUNCE OUR REFUSAL TO CHANGE THE LAW TO CATCH GODBER. WE WILL, HOWEVER, HAVE TO STRESS IN ANSWER TO QUESTIONS, THE DIFFICULTY OF RETROSPECTIVE LEGISLATION TO CATCH
ONE MAN ETC.
2. ALL THIS WILL, HOWEVEP, NEED MORE TIME. IN THIS SITUATION I VERY MUCH HOPE THAT YOU CAN PHRASE THE PASSAGE IN YOUR SPEECH ON WEDNESDAY RATHER DIFFERENTLY. IF YOU SAY IN YOUR SPEECH THAT THE REQUIREMENT OF DOUBLE CRIMINALITY DOES NOT MAKE SENSE, AND THAT IT SEEMS ABSURD THAT THERE SHOULD NOT BE A CHANGE, IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO AVOID THE QUESTION ABOUT WHAT WE PROPOSE TO DO.
CONFIDENTI^L
ふざ
13. MIFT