Amendment to the Fugitive Offenders Act (if pressed)
The second Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the
Godber case (the Blair-Kerr Report) was recently published in
Hong Kong. The Report recommends, amongst other things,
amendment of the Fugitive Offenders Act to enable Mr Godber to
be returned to Hong Kong. However, to amend the Act so as to
secure the return of Mr Godber would involve a number of
problems.
Retrospective legislation apparently designed to
catch one man is not readily accepted by Parliament.
(If pressed further):-
The Governor's representations to the Secretary of State
on this issue are being carefully considered.