TNAG-0376-FCO40-422-Discussions-with-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 13

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accepted or rejected as a whole and how it would come into force.

fr Holland said that it came into force automatically, provided

the sterling holders continued to follow the terms of the former

agreements. It was not intended to be a formal bilateral agree-

ment. He personally thought many of the recipients would find it

an attractive offer. Sir M MacLehose said he would send a telegram

to Hong Kong asking for reactions to the Declaration.

MR GODBER AND THE BLAIR-KERR REPORT

7.

The meeting was joined by Mr Rushford and Mr Wright.

Mr Royle said we had been having a look at the possibility of

amending the Fugitive Offenders Act. It contained a double

criminality provision. This had been put in in 1967 because the

independent Commonwealth countries had the power to make their own

laws which might be quite different from ours. This need not

logically apply to the Dependent Territories, where we had some

control over the legislation, and we could change the relevant

provision by Order in Council. One problem was, however, that the

section of the Prevention of Bribery under which Mr Godber was

charged in Hong Kong, was itself open to criticism.

Officers had advised against it, and he had had to undertake to

defend it in Parliament if necessary. It would only be possible

to get a change in the Fugitive Offenders Act through with the

support of the Opposition. He intended to talk to the Attorney

General and the Whips, and then the Opposition. He was advised

that if the Act was amended it could be made to apply to Mr Godber

/without

The Law

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