“(17545) Dd.145178 400m 5/73 G.W.B.Ltd. Gp.863
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
FLཋཱ༔** *
CONFIDENTIAL
constitutional powers of the Crown) to change the
law. But any such step, if it ever took place, would
have to be very carefully considered on general
grounds.
32. CORRUPTION (Brief No. 9)
The Governor has set up the proposed independent
Anti-Corruption Commission. It will start work early
in the New Year. We have agreed to most of the other
proposals made by the Blair-Kerr Commission for charg(s
in Hong Kong laws and regulations. But these are
still under discussion in Hong Kong and have not yet
been announced in detail.
33. Line to Take: We fully support the Governor in
his strong action to stamp out corruption in Hong Kong
and have said so in Parliament. The setting up of
the Anti-Corruption Commission is a major step with
which we fully agree. Other changes are being made
with our agreement and in the light of the Blair-Kerr
Commission's report. We are also willing to lend
Hong Kong one or two senior officers from Scotland
Yard or another UK force.
34.
FUGITIVE OFFENDERS ACT
(Brief No. 10)
Mr Godber, a Hong Kong policeman now in the UK, is
accused of the po session of resources not commensurate
with his salary (about £350,000). This is an offence
in Hong Kong but not in the UK. It is thus not
"returnable offerce uder the Fugitive Offenders A
1967. We have already decided that we cannot amend
the Act retrospectively to make it possible to send
Mr Godber back to Hong Kong. But at the Governor's
request we have not announced this while the possibi
/of a
•
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.