17
10.
CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Youdd
Sir D Watson
PS Mr
Mr/byty.
لله
15/0
CORRUPTION IN HONG KONG
(25)
MiStuart
And God
1. Since drafting my submission attached we have received
two further telegrams from the Governor (Hong Kong telegrams
Telegram No 1180 contains comments on our
246-241 Flags & H Nos 1178 and 1180.
Flag
(293
Fla
246
Flag B
233)
telegram No 1000. Most of these are complicated, and I will
be submitting on them separately.
to finalise our views.
-
We have until 14 November
2. But one question cannot wait the Fugitive Offenders Act.
Hong Kong telegram No 1178 contains the text of what the Governor
proposes to say on Wednesday 17 October if we do not stop him.
Given that we have already told him that we cannot change the
law to catch Godber, and that we may not be able to make any
change even if it is not retrospective in form (paragraph 2 of
FCO telegram No 1000) the draft passage in the Governor's speech
invites trouble. By committing himself personally to a change
in the law he may encourage those MPs who have taken the same
line with him, but he makes it very difficult for us to answer
questions in Parliament and, more important, puts his own
position in question if we announce in the end that no change
can be made either to catch Godber or on general grounds.
3.
Although personal messages should be used sparingly, I
think this is another case where it would be useful for Mr Royle
to make use of the personal link and urge the Governor to moderate
lides
CONFIDENTIAL
/the
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