Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London S.W.1

29 July 1974

m

1739

Charles Russell & Company

Hale Court

21 Old Buildings

Lincolns Inn

London WC2A 3UL

Dear Sirs

GODBER EXTRADITION

RECEIVED

REGISTRY NO 52. 30 JUL 1974

jlakkly 13

Orignial a NORD

With reference to Mr Passmore's telephone conversation with Mr Crowson on 25 July, we have now received the following message from Hong Kong:-

"Please instruct Russells to oppose application for adjournment as vigorously as possible. We consider case may be gravely prejudiced by further delay.

The hearing before the Magistrate is not a trial and details as to the nature of the evidence which is being sought and its relevance should be given before an adjournment is considered. There appears little advantage in having the Crown case dealt with first if the defence is then granted an adjournment to present its evidence.

176

Defence has been given over two months to prepare its case and this should be ample. If part of defence is that a fair trial is impossible in Hong Kong because of publicity and evidence is being sought to show this, Magistrate should be advised that trial will be in District Court with Judge alone. This submission is not in our view relevant before Magistrate anyway. We agree with your remarks about Cheng and Hunt is due to be released from prison on 15 October. Gunston is probably aware

of that."

Yours faithfully

л

A. R. Rushford

A R Rushford Deputy Legal Adviser

brigidas Bd. 29.12

the

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