CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL
importance to which the double-criminality rule applies
is Section 10 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
This confirmed the Law Officers in their opposition
to any change, since, as you know, they disapprove
of this provision and have said that they could not
support it in Parliament.
4.
We now have to decide how to announce our
decision in a way that will cause minimum controversy.
On this we would be glad of your advice.
Presumably
the decision will be badly received in Hong Kong,
particularly since, as a result of the advice in your
telegram no. 1180 of 15 October 1973, with which we
agreed, it will have to be joined with the announcement
that we cannot return Godber. But I do not think there
is anything to be gained by delay. There would
obviously be advantage in getting any row out of the
way well before the Prime Minister's visit, whenever
this may now be. If you think it would be best to
tell ExCo first, we will send a telegram in the
non-personal series to you and to the other Governors
whom we have consulted. We could also perhaps inspire
a Parliamentary Question here. But unless you think
it essential to demonstrate in this way that you have
had no hand in the decision, it might be better to let
it percolate through with as few public statements as
possible. In any event I think we should stress the
point that you made in your LegCo speech, that the
remedy lies in the hands of those people in Hong Kong
who could come forward and give evidence of a returnable
offence.
Also, if you thought it would help to minimive
criticion that we are
we aimed
exphasise
the principle
rule.
sungly looking after
the stre
people,
shag which her kehnd the dumble-ammality
Parhamar Vay & public feeling
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