TNAG-0374-FCO40-420-Discussions-with-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 49

CONFIDENTIAL

he may leave the country in which case the amendment will

increase our embarrassment

and in principle it is not

usually desirable to change the law because of one unfortunate

case that might never recur.

SPEAKING NOTES

9.

Mr Royle may wish to ask the Governor:

(1)

Whether in his view there is any chance of the

Hong Kong Police producing other evidence which

could secure the return of Mr Godber; would the

attachment of some experienced Scotland Yard

fraud squad officers be likely to assist in

procurement of evidence;

(2) If not, whether he would see any advantage in

modifying the Act of 1967 if Mr Godber managed

to leave the UK before the change took effect.

(3) When he hopes to announce the new arrangements

which he has in mind for dealing with corruption

in Hong Kong (both Sir Alastair Blair-Kerr and

Mr Prendergast would have roles to play). This

should do much to reduce the pressure for an

external Commission of Enquiry.

150t

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Department

7 September 1973

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CONFIDENTIAL