GPS 380
IKMEDIATE
CYPHER/CAT A
M HONG KONG B22940Z
CONFIDENTIAL
SYN..51
S NOV 1973
PRICHYN
312
TOP COPY
CONFIDENTIAL
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 1258 OF 2 NOVEMBER,
YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 1107 OF 1 NOVEMBER.
1973.
a mandment ais per
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION. EXTRADITION OF GODBER.
FOLLOWING FOR HK IOD.
L'ST REF
RES.
(016 (2/6) 9328
WE ARE UNHAPPY ABOUT THE ANSWER PROPOSED IN YOUR PARAGRAPH 2 BECAUSE IT MIGHT LAY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OPEN TO THE CHARGE THAT IT HAD BEEN INACTIVE OR INDIFFERENT IN THE MATTER. THIS WOULD BE RATHER DAMAGING AS WELL AS UNFAIR.
2. THEREFORE, WE WOULD PREFER THE SECOND PARAGRAPH OF YOUR DRAFT
ANSWER TO READ AS FOLLOWS
QUOTE CONSEQUENTLY IT IS NOT OPEN TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO MAKE ANY REQUEST FOR THE RETURN OF GODBER UNDER THAT ACT UNQUOTE.
3. WITH REGARD TO PARAGRAPH 3(A) OF YOUR TELEGRAM. IT IS IMPORTANT, FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW, THAT YOU SHOULD STRESS THAT YOU ARE AWARE
and public OF THE STRONG FEELINGS OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND FURTHER THAT
Hic Tel MEANS SHOULD BE FOUND TO BRING GODBER TO JUSTICE. THE PRINCIPAL
No 1261.
Рыко
PROPOSAL MADE IS THAT THE FUGITIVE OFFENDERS ACT SHOULD BE AMENDED SO AS TO ENABLE CODBER, AND OTHER OFFENDERS CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL KM OFFENCES WHICH ARE NOT RELEVANT OFFENCES UNDER THE FUGITIVE OFFENDERS
ACT, TO BE EXTRADITED TO HONG KONG TO STAND TRIAL. IT WOULD ALSO BE
HELPFUL TO US IF YOU WERE ABLE TO MENTION THAT THERE HAS BEEN
AND STILL IS POWERFUL AND SUSTAINED PUBLIC PRESSURE FOR THE RETURN
OF CODBER TO HONG KONG.
/4. PARAGRAPH
CONFIDENTIAL
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Pork
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