CONFIDENTIAL
4.
I do not think that we should attempt to take any
decision about the suitability or unsuitability of Mr Liu for
a post in the Commission on the basis of the evidence produced
by Mr Tracy, but should concentrate on the fact that he has not
been offered one. Mr Tracy is known to Mr James Johnson, and
Lord Goronwy-Roberts might think it worth having a word about
him when Mr Johnson calls on 9 May. But Mr Tracy has not in the
past been the most balanced of witnesses. The documents he has
now produced as evidence of Mr Liu's unsuitability do suggest that
the latter gave a higher priority to the Fight Violent Crime
campaign in Hong Kong than to the return of Mr Godber.
line was also necessarily to some extent followed by the Governor,
at the time when it seemed that there were insuperable legal
obstacles to Mr Godber's return, and when continued public
harping on the case was distracting attention from the important
campaign against violent crime.
5.
But this
We must also beware of usurping the function of Mr Cater,
the Commissioner, who has to make the Anti-Corruption Commission
work and who knows much more about the individuals concerned than
we do. I will be seeing him again before he returns to Hong Kong
and will show him the papers. But meanwhile I suggest that we
should not go into the matter too deeply in the reply to Mr Marks.
I submit a draft letter accordingly.
6.
6 May 1974
CONFIDENTIAL
A C Stuart
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.
7/3.