GRPS 184
PRIORITY
1
CYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 139532Z
CONFIDENTTAL
LAST
REF.
R=1.
33.7
CONFIDENTIAL
TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 1302 OF 13TH NOVEMBER, 1973.
YOUR TELECRAM NO. 1117.
MR. ALAN ELLIS.
RECE
[NICK 14/17]
WE HAVE NO OBJECTION TO YOUR PROPOSED REPLY TO THE GENERAL QUESTION ABOUT AN EXTERNAL ENQUIRY, BUT WE DO NOT CONSIDER THAT IT
WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO REFER ELLIG'S PARTICULAR CASE TO THE NEW
ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION.
2. AS YOU SAY, IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT THE COMMISSION WOULD DISCOVER ANYTHING NEW AFTER TEN YEARS. ITS FAILURE TO CO SO WOULD PROBABLY CAUSE ELLIS TO ALLEGE THAT THE NEW COMMISSION IS NO BETTER THAN THE EXISTING MACHINERY AND IS YET ANOTHER DEVICE TO COVER UP, RATHER THAN TO REVEAL, CORRUPTION.
WE THEREFORE SUGGEST THAT ELLIS BE TOLD THAT NO USEFUL PURPOSE CAN BE SEEN IN RE-OPENING HIS CASE WHICH HAS BEEN RE-EXAMINED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE PAST TEN YEARS INCLUDING A CAREFUL REVIEW BY YOUR POLICE ADVISER ONLY THIS YEAR.
MACLEHOSE
FILDS
HKTOD
OPA
GTB AND GENL DEPT
LEGAL ADVISERS
PS TO MR ROYLE
SIR D WATSON
MR WILFORD MR YOUDE
CONFIDENTIAL