IMMEDIATE
CYPHER/CAT A GPS 5200
FM HONG KONG 132910Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
ઉર
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TO IMMEDIATE ECO TELNO 643 OF 13 JUNE. 1973.
(30)
YOUR TELEGRAMS 576 AND 578.
ESCAPE OF CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT GODBER.
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PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THIS MAN UNDER THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY
ORDINANCE HAD REACHED AN ADVANCED STAGE. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAD
WRITTEN TO HIM GIVING HIM UNTIL MONDAY 11 JUNE TO MAKE REPRESENT-
ATIONS. THOUGH HE HAD BEEN PUT ON THE STOP LIST, BY MEANS WHICH ARE
NOT YET CLEAR HE APPARENTLY SUCCEEDED IN BOARDING AN AIRCRAFT TO
SINGAPORE ON LAST FRIDAY 8 JUNE. SENIOR ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER
HENRY FOLLOWED HIM TO SINGAPORE IMMEDIATELY, BUT IT HAS NOT YET
BEEN POSSIBLE TO ESTABLISH EVEN THAT HE LEFT SINGAPORE.
2. WE WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS.
3. GENERALLY SPEAKING THE FACTS OF THIS CASE REFLECT CREDIT ON THE
POLCE AND ON THE ANTI CORRUPTION BRANCH, AS SHOWING THAT THEY WERE FOCUSING IN ON CORRUPTION EVEN IN THE HIGHEST PLACES. BUT THE
MAN'S ESCAPE HAS CAUSED GREAT PUBLIC DISQUIET. SO FAR AS I HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO ESTABLISH THE FACTS SURROUNDING HIS ESCAPE, WHILE THESE HIGHLIGHT VARIOUS LEGAL PROBLEMS, THEY INDICATE THAT THERE
WERE CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULTIES THAT INHIBITED THE POLICE FROM DOING
ANYTHING MORE EFFECTIVE TO PREVENT HIS DEPARTURE. HOWEVER, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE THIS IS HARD FOR THE PUBLIC AND PRESS TO ACCEPT, IF
STATED BY THE POLICE OR BY THE GOVERNMENT.
4. I HAVE THEREFORE, WITH THE AGREEMENT OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, SET UP AN ENQUIRY UNDER THE COMMISSIONS OF ENQUIRY ORDINANCE TO
REPORT ON THE FACTS. THE COMMISSIONER, WHO WILL SIT ALONE, IS
JUSTICE SIR ALSTAIR BLAIR KERR.
5. THE TERMS OF REFERENCE ARE:-
(A) TO REPORT ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH A PERSON AGAINST WHOM PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE WERE IN
AN ADVANCED STAGE, WAS ABLE TO LEAVE HONG KONG:
.
/(B)
CONFIDENTIAL
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