TNAG-0405-FCO40-451-Allegations-of-bribery-and-corruption-in-the-Hong-Kong-polic-1973 — Page 87

Mr Wilford

Parliamentary Office

PS Mr Royle

CONFIDENTIAL

पर

Flag

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40/E

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION: SUPERINTENDENT GODBER

Their

1. We have consulted Hong Kong about Mr James Johnson's

written Question which is due to be answered today.

reply is attached.

2. It does not answer the question so I have turned their

draft round without altering the substance. I think it would

also be worth putting a sentence at the end to answer the

critics of the Hong Kong Government's actions.

3. This is the first we knew of any warrant for Super-

intendent Godber. The last time this was mentioned, in a

conversation between the Acting Solicitor General, Hong Kong

and Mr Roberts, Mr Thornton said that no charge had been

brought against Mr Godber and no warrant had been issued. It

is a pity that we were not brought up to date, as we have

continued to say to the press and others that we knew of no

warrant for Mr Godber's arrest. However, the substantial

result is the same, since the charge on which the warrant has

been issued is not one which would permit an application for

Mr Godber's return under the Fugitive Offenders Act.

4. The description of the alleged offence in the draft

answer is technically correct. Section 10 of the Hong Kong

Prevention of Bribery Ordinance provides that "any person who,

being or having been a Crown Servant

is in control of

/pecuniary

CONFIDENTIAL