TNAG-0405-FCO40-451-Allegations-of-bribery-and-corruption-in-the-Hong-Kong-polic-1973 — Page 92

IMMEDIATE

CYPHER CAT A

CONFIDENTIAL

GPS 300

IN

FM HONGKONG 250115Z

56.61

€1

CONFIDENTIAL

DESKBY 250800Z

likk 14/17

TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELEGRAM NUMBER 689 OF 25 JUNE. 1973

FOR H.K.1.0.D.

YOUR TELNO 622 : CODBER.

SUGGEST REPLY ON FOLLOWING LINES :

LAST

"AT THE TIME MR. GODBER LEFT HONG KONG CONSIDERATION WAS BEING

GIVEN TO HIS PROSECUTION FOR AN OFFENCE UNDER $.10 OF THE

PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE. SINCE HE LEFT A WARRANT HAS

BEEN ISSUED FOR HIS ARREST IN HONGKONG.

THE OFFENCE ALLEGED WAS THAT MR. GODBER WAS IN CONTROL OF PECUNIARY RESOURCES DISPROPORTIONATE TO HIS SALARY AS A POLICE OFFICER. THAT OFFENCE IS NOT ONE WHICH FALLS WITHIN THE FUGITIVE OFFENDERS ACT BECAUSE THERE IS NO CORRESPONDING OFFENCE UNDER THE

LAW OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. CONSEQUENTLY, THE HONG KONG GOVT IS NOT ABLE TO SEEK HIS RETURN TO STAND TRIAL FOR THAT OFFENCE,

POLICE INQUIRIES ARE, HOWEVER, CONTINUING. 7 !

2n HAVING PAID ONE MONTH'S SALARY IN LIEU.OF NOTICE GODBER IS

NO LONGER A MEMBER OF THE R.H.K.P.F.

3. THE COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY WAS SET UP BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL AND IS NOT, IN OUR VIEW, RELEVANT TO THE QUESTION SINCE THE REASONS WHY WE HAVE NOT SOUGHT GODBER'S RETURN DO NOT FALL WITHIN ITS TERMS OF REFERENCE, THOUGH THE FACT THAT IT WAS SET

UP TO INQUIRE HOW GODBER MANAGED TO LEAVE HONG KONG MAY BE USEFUL TO YOU IN SUPPLEMENTARIES.

CONFIDENTIAL

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