PP HONG KONG
GRS 390
CONFIDENTIAL
DISTRIBUTION SELECTORS . FILE COPY
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FM FCO 04150OZ FEB 82
ни
HK Section нкоя
Htel
SLEY NO
16
TO PRIORITY GOV HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 69 OF 4 FEBRUARY.
DESK
INDE
FOLLOWING TELEGRAM RECEIVED FROM HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE.
FOR S.H.A. FROM CATER.
I HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM PETER BLAKER, MP, IN THE
FOLLOWING TERMS:-
QUOTE DEAR JACK, I WONDER IF I COULD PUT TO
YOU A RATHER UNUSUAL REQUEST.
I AM SUING PRIVATE EYE'' FOR LIBEL ARISING OUT OF
AN ARTICLE WHICH THEY PUBLISHED SOME EIGHTEEN MONTHS AGO
AT THE TIME OF THE INQUEST ON THE POLICE INSPECTOR WHO
COMMITTED SUICIDE. I BELIEVE HIS NAME WAS MCLENNAN.
THE ''PRIVATE EYE'' ARTICLE COMPLAINED THAT I HAD
REFUSED TO DIRECT THAT A JUDICIAL ENQUIRY SHOULD BE HELD
INTO THE CASE, ON WHICH YOU WILL REMEMBER THE CORONER'S
JURY HAD RETURNED AN OPEN VERDICT. THE ''PRIVATE EYE' ARTICLE.
WENT ON TO ADD THAT MY FATHER OWNS A LARGE PART OF THE
TERRITORY OF HONG KONG. THE CLEAR IMPLICATION WAS THAT I
WAS REFUSING TO HOLD AN INVESTIGATION BECAUSE I OR MY FATHER
HAD A PECUNIARY INTEREST IN HONG KONG.
I AM ADVISED BY MY SOLICITORS AND BY COUNSEL THAT
I AM ALMOST CERTAIN TO WIN MY CASE. INDEED THEY EXPECT
''PRIVATE EYE' TO CONCEDE THE CASE, BUT PROBABLY ONLY A FEW
DAYS BEFORE IT IS DUE FOR HEARING.
MY LEGAL ADVISERS HAVE ASKED IF I COULD PRODUCE A
WITNESS WHO COULD GIVE EVIDENCE AS TO THE FREEDOM OF ACTION
ENJOYED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG VIS A VIS H.M.G.
I MADE TO THEM THE POINT THAT THIS IS THE SORT OF CASE
IN WHICH I, AS THE MINISTER RESPONSIBLE, WOULD HAVE LEFT THE DECISION TO THE GOVERNOR IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRACTICE
OF LEAVING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO BE SETTLED BY THE GOVERNOR
AND THE RESPECTIVE COUNCILS IN HONG KONG.
Taks
DUA LLE