TNAG-0362-FCO40-408-Constitutional-development-of-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 25

From the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

LACT

REF.

2:4

PLF

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London S.W.1

15 October, 1973

Thank you for your letter of 27 September with which you enclosed a letter from Dr. Mansel Davies of Edward Davies Chemical laboratories, University College, Aberystwyth.

Dr. Davies's first point concerns corruption in the Royal Hong Kong Police Force. You will probably know that earlier this year Chief Superintendent Gödber absconded from Hong Kong after being informed that proceedings against him under section 10 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance were under consideration. Following Mr. Godber's departure from Hong Kong the Senior Puisne Judge in Hong Kong, Sir Alastair Blair-Kerr, was asked, first, to conduct an urgent inquiry into the circumstances of Mr. Godber's departure; and then second to consider whether any changes in the law or the current arrangements were required. His first report, published in July, contained recommendations for closing certain loopholes in the law. These have been accepted. The Governor is now urgently considering a number of further recommendations made subsequently by Sir Alastair which have also just been published. I have recently had extensive discussions with the Governor about how the problem should be tackled. We are very concerned about allegations of corruption in Hong Kong but it is a problem which must be dealt with primarily by the Hong Kong Government. assure you that the Governor, with our support, is taking the necessary firm measures.

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Dr. Davies goes on to express concern about what, he terms "an extraordinarily small (almost zero) element of democracy in the Hong Kong Governmental operation". Because of Hong Kong's special position, constitutional development towards self-government is not possible. This has been stated in the House on several occasions. The Governor administers the colony with the assistance of Executive and

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