TNAG-0405-FCO40-451-Allegations-of-bribery-and-corruption-in-the-Hong-Kong-polic-1973 — Page 111

IMMEDIATE

CYPHER/CAT A

GPS 160

FM F C O 13181GZ

CONFIDENTIAL.

DESKBY 140001Z

CONFIDENTIAL

KÒNG

CHK

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TO IMMEDIATE GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELNO.583 OF 13 JUNE, 1973.

YOUR TELNO,640 : GODBER.

1. POLICE HAVE CONFIRMED THAT GODBER LANDED HEATHROW 9 JUNE. THEY HAVE EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT HE IS NOW AT RYE, SUSSEX, THOUGH THEY HAVE NOT INTERVIEWED HIM PERSONALLY, REPORTERS HAVE SPOKEN TO HIS WIFE AND ARE NOW CAMPED IN THE GARDEN WITH ORDERS

TO FOLLOW HIM IF HE LEAVES.

2.

HASTINGS POLICE HAVE BEEN ASKED BY INTERPOL TO CHECK ON HIS MOVEMENTS, BUT HAVE UNDERSTANDABLY ASKED IF ANY CHARGE IS PENDING. WE UNDERSTAND THROUGH ROBERTS AND THORNTON THAT THE DIFFICULTY IS TO FRAME CHARGES WHICH WOULD MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE FUGITIVE OFFENDERS ACT. WE APPRECIATE THE PROBLEM. BUT, IF GODBER STAYS IN THIS COUNTRY, IT WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULTY TO EXPLAIN, IN THE LIGHT OF TERMS OF REFERENCE OF YOUR ENQUIRY, WHY NO ACTION IS TAKEN AGAINST HIM: WHILE, IF HE DECIDES TO LEAVE, WE SHALL BOTH BE CRITIZED FOR LETTING HIM SLIP THROUGH OUR FINGERS TWICE. EITHER OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS WOULD STRENGTHEN DEMANDS FOR INTERVENTION FROM HERE,

3. ALL THIS, OF COURSE UNDERLINES THE ADVANTAGES OF SPEED IF EVIDENCE CAN BE FOUND TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE FUGITIVE

OFFENDERS ACT,

DOUGLAS-HOME

FILES

HKIOD

OPA

NEWS D

PS

PS/MR ROYLE

MR ROSE MR RUSHFORD

CONFIDENTIAL

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