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as a step in that direction.
The Governor is reconsidering the
present position and will be sending us his considered views.
The two problems are to find ways of involving the wills and the
energies of the people of Hong Kong in the processes of
government. But the difficulties of introducing any elected
element would need very careful consideration. We shall be
submitting to Ministers when we receive the Governor's views,
but in the meantime I recommend that we should not imply the
likelihood of any change. Meanwhile other channels are available
for people to make known their grievances and express their
views. These are described in supplementary number 10.
Corruption and Ex-Chief Superintendent Godber
8.
In June last year, while action against him under the
Hong Kong Prevention of Bribery Ordinance was at an advanced
stage of preparation, Chief Superintendent Godber left Hong Kong.
He is now in the United Kingdom. Section 10 of the Ordinance,
under which proceedings were opened, makes it an offence for a
public servant to be in possession of financial resources
disproportionate to his official emoluments, unless he can give
a satisfactory explanation. There is, however, no similar
offence under United Kingdom law. The return of fugitive
offenders from the United Kingdom to the Dependent Territories
is regulated by the "ugitive Offenders Act 1967, which provides
that a person may not be returned from Britain unless the offence
of which he is accused is also an offence under the United Kingdom
law. Consequently Mr Godber cannot be sent back to Hong Kong
unless the Hong Kong authorities can produce evidence of a
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/returnable