Mr lift HKGD
Mrelift
CONFIDENTIAL
༽ པཱུ༧
zšk
HKK 380/2
MY NO. 51
за
INDEX
6
(46) HITK 380/3
1980
BLAKER v PRIVATE EYE
1.
I have spoken to John Bailey, Deputy Treasury Solicitor. He tells me that there has been correspondence between him, the Crown solicitor in Hong Kong, the solicitors involved in the case and yourself about the question of producing documents in this action. I think he said that he wrote to you on or about 18 January, but has not yet had a reply. I should be grateful if I could see that correspondence, before we decide how to reply to Mr Blaker's Private Secretary.
2. Mr Bailey agreed that our normal practice, in litigation to which the Crown is not a party, is to remain strictly neutral and only to disclose official documents in response to a subpoena.
3.
For your own information I do not personally think that we could sustain any claim for public interest immunity in respect of Mr Blaker's letter to Mr Robin Cook MP of 11 July 1980. But I do not think you should go into this with Mr Blaker's Private Secretary.
7.
Bunow.
23 February 1982
F Burrows
Legal Counsellor
Mr Burrows
1.
All the papers on this subject are flagged. They begin at folio 13 on the 1981 file.
2.
I have now written to Mr Bailey in reply to his letter of 22 January. Mr Williamson, Head of the Hong Kong Section in this department, is standing by in case anybody is needed to attend Court.
24 February 1982
Бир
R D Clift
Hong Kong and General Department
CONFIDENTIAL