4
H
14
394
in a local newspaper called the Hong Kong Telegraph. A copy of the article in question is appended.
by my
This case was referred in the direction to the Attorney General, who gave his opinion against Government Prosecution in the following terms: "I think that the article is libellous. It certainly imputes to persons who are described as "certain Officials" and "numerous government Officials" that they are suspected and probably with good cause of dishonesty in the arrangement of contracts for government works.
Enclosure 2.
This is my impression of the effect of the article as it stands: but the imputation is not made in very explicit terms: and is rather the conclusion that appears to arise from a general view of the article taken as a whole; and it is quite possible that the writer might explain it away at least as an imputation of personal dishonesty against any one in particular. It is impossible to say precisely what line the writer might take for this purpose or what evidence might be forthcoming to...