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Mr Cortazzi
PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts
CONFIDENTIAL
Yel to issue
17'm
2. Hick 30/16
7 MV
HONG KONG: POSSIBLE VISIT BY ICAC COMMISSIONER TO
ONDON/12
1. In his telegram no. 1132 of 14 November, the Governor of Hong Kong suggests that he should bring Mr Cater, the ICAC Commissioner, to London with him next week for his meetings with
MPs and the British press.
2. The Governor is correct in saying that there is a lack of understanding in this country of the exact significance of the amnesty of 5 November: some commentators appear to believe that ICAC has achieved nothing and has now been virtually abolished.
3. On the other hand, there is not now very much interest here in the police affair, except from those like Mr Robert Parry who are not open to persuasion from the Governor. Only "The Times" and "The Guardian" ever showed much interest and the former has
not mentioned it for the past week. The Governor's visit may well revive interest: the presence of Mr Cater, while it might help to dispel any thoughts that there had been a disagreement between him and the Governor, could make it look as if the Hong Kong Government were on the defensive over their role in the affair. I am also slightly surprized that the Governor thinks it appropriate for Mr Cater to be out of Hong Kong at
this time.
4.
The arguments for and against Mr Cater's coming are finely balanced. This being so, I suggest that we should draw the attention of the Governor to the consideration in paragraph 3 above but leave the final decision to the Governor's judgement. I recommend that Lord Goronwy-Roberts should reply to the Governor on the lines of the attached draft.
10.3.Saul B.
JAB Stewart
16 November 1977
cc: PS
OPA News Dept
CONFIDENTIAL
Hong Kong & General Dept
10n