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5.
last if car.
Mr Godber was stoplisted when he originally arrived in the
UK The Home Office arranged this at FCO request but said that it
would be for a Minister of the FCO to defend the stopping of
Mr Godber to Parliament if necessary. This should present no
problem if, as we now hope, a warrant of arrest is immediately
pending. And even if no such warrant arrives, the Minister would
be able to explain the stopping of Mr Godber by the fact that
investigations are still proceeding in Hong Kong. Sentiment about
corruption in the colony is such that this explanation would be
likely to be accepted.
Recommendation
6.
I therefore recommend that Lord Goronwy-Roberts should
agree that Mr Godber should remain stoplisted for the time being
and that FCO Ministers will defend this in Parliament if need be.
If however the Hong Kong Government are unable, on the basis of
evidence, to proceed with a warrant for Mr Godber's arrest,
I recommend that we should, perhaps at the end of the month, review
the stoplisting of Mr Godber. This is probably the best chance
there will be of returning him to Hong Kong. If it fails, it may
not be justifiable to continue trying to retain him in the UK
indefinitely.
24 April 1974
CC
Mr Youde
Sir D Watson o.r.
j
ACSE
A C Stuart
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.
aftee
Goronwy - Roberts
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