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Date
23 January 1974
GP Lloyd Esq CMG
Secretary for Security REF
Hong Kong
Dear Reter
IP'S CASE: TRAFFIC ACCIDENT IN HONG KONG
You will recollect that one of the questions which lir Ray Carter MP put down for written answer on 21 January, and on which we consulted you in our telegram number 58, concerned the accident on 29 July in which Mr Kwan Kung was knocked down and killed by a car.
In your
The telegrams number 74 and 75 you gave us material for a reply. Minister's answer was based on your recommendation; he also undertook to write to Mr Carter giving him full details. We were about to submit a letter for Ir Blaker's signature, based on the information given in your second telegram, when a letter from Ir Carter to the Secretary of State arrived, I enclose a copy, together with a copy of the somewhat voluminous enclosures.
You will see that this letter and in particular the statement by hr Kwan's son, raises somewhat wider questions than have been covered so far. The Minister is accordingly sending an interim reply to r Carter, saying that we are consulting you further.
The most significant allegation in the letter seems to be that the Police were bribed not to prosecute. Mr Kwan's son alleges that a shop-keeper told him that the driver's father "gave something to the Policeman who involved to investigate this matter". The son evidently telephoned the driver, pretending to be a Policeman, and asked the driver for money. The transcript of a tape-recording of the conversation seems to indicate the driver's willingness to pay, but does not appear actually to contain an admission that he had already paid anything by way of a bribe. It also appears thut this incident was one of those which figured prominently in the recent Granada television "World in Action" programme.
No should be grateful for your further advice as soon as possible on that the Minister should now say to Mr Carte. Ferhaps this ought to cover the question whether or not the all gation of bribe.'y should be referred to the Commission against corruption. There is also a complaint that the dead man's family were not told of the accident, but left to find out for themselves, although Hr Kwan allegedly gave his name and address to the ambulance man.
R.U. 10dup
13/2
RB Crowson
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.
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