• 415
IMEDIATE
CYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 188755Z
CONFIDENTIAL.
CONFIDENTIAL
Dee (118
TO IMMEDIATE F.C.O TELNO.500 OF 18 APRIE
HKK Sea/2 382/2
INDEX
19/3
No
Mind Che
an
(14)
YOUR TELNO.303.
(113
THE FOLLOWING REPLIES TO THE P.Q.S ARE SUGGESTED:
1. MR COSTAIN 'A TOTAL OF 210 CARS HAVE BEEN ORDERED FROM
METRO-CAMMELL AT AN APPROXIMATE TOTAL COST OF H.K DOLLARS SEVEN HUNDRED MILLION INCLUDING AN ALLOWANCE FOR INFLATION TO THE END
OF THE CONTRACT.'' (WE PRESUME THAT YOU WILL PRODUCE THE FIGURE FOR THE EFFECT ON EMPLOYMENT IN U.K).
2, 14R WALKER WE ASSUME THAT THIS REFERS TO STATEMENT ON 3 APRIL
BY MR MILES JACKSON-LIPKIN, QC AS DEFENCE COUNSEL IN A TRIAL AT VICTORIA DISTRICT COURT. HE WAS DEFENDING OWNERS OF TWO NIGHT
CLUBS WHO PLEADED GUILTY TO CHARGES OF EVADING H.K DOLLARS ONE
POINT FIVE MILLION OF TAX. IN MITIGATION HE CLAIMED THAT HIS
CLIENTS HAD TO MEET OPERATING EXPENSES INCLUDING PAYMENTS TO FOLICE AND TRIADS, THAT PAYMENTS TO POLICE WERE CONTINUING, THAT
HIS CLIENTS WERE AFRAID TO REPORT TO ICAC, AND THAT THE AUTHORITIES. MERE IGNORING THE FACT THAT CORRUPTION WAS WORSE THAN BEFORE THE
AMNESTY, DESPITE PROSECUTING COUNSEL OBJECTIONS ABOUT ABSENCE OF EVIDENCE THE SPEECH WAS ALLOWED TO STAND BY JUDGE COLLIER WHO
IS REPORTED TO HAVE SAID THAT HE WOULD HAVE FINED THEM MORE BUT FOR THE FACT THAT HE ACCEPTED THE STATEMENT. ICAC HAS FOLLOWED UP BUT HAS SO FAR BEEN UNABLE TO INTERVIEW THE CLIENTS. ICAC CONSIDER THE STATEMENT TO BE A WILD EXAGGERATION. WE SUGGEST A
REPLY ALONG THE FOLLOWING LINES:
''I PRESUME MY HON. FRIEND IS REFERRING TO A RECENT STATEMENT IN MITIGATION BY DEFENCE COUNSEL ACTING FOR CLIENTS PLEADING GUILTY TO TAX EVASION CHARGES. THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION CONSIDER THE CHARGES UNFOUNDED BUT ARE SEEKING, SO FAR UNSUCCESSFULLY, TO INTERVIEW THOSE ON WHOSE BEHALF THE CLAIM WAS
MADE.**
CONFIDENTIAL
/3.