TNAG-0370-FCO40-416-Visit-of-Edward-Heath--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Hong-Kong--12-1-1973 — Page 43

CONFIDENTIAL

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would not be retrospective in form and therefore would not catch

Mr Godber. We are pursuing this with the Home Office and the

Law Officers, but there are still substantial difficulties in

securing agreement to any amendment which would make a person liable to return to face charges for an offence which is not

recognised as such by the law in this country. The Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary has decided that these difficulties cannot

be resolved before the visit. Since a positive decision cannot be reached, there is tactical advantage in saying that the issue

is still under review rather than taking a definite decision

against and announcing it which would be taken badly in Hong Kong.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

14 December 1973

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CONFIDENTIAL