IMMEDIATE
CYPHER CAT A
GR 180
FM F C O 381910Z
CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAL
86
TOP COPY
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TO IMMEDIATE GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELNO 739 OF 30 JULY 1973.
YOUR TELEGRAM NO 829: GODBER.
1. WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH THE HOME OFFICE. AND TOLD THEM THAT YOU HAVE ASKED FOR GODBER'S PASSPORT TO BE WITHDRAWN. THEY HAVE AGREED THAT GODBER SHOULD BE PLACED ON THE WATCH-LIST. THIS MEANS THAT IF HE PRESENTS HIS PASSPORT TO AN IMMIGRATION OFFICER AT AN AIRPORT OR SEAPORT, IT IS TO BE WITHDRAWN,
2. WE HAVE ALSO PLACED GODBER ON THE STOP-LIST FOR THE ISSUE OF A UK PASSPORT, IF HE APPLIES FOR ONE, THE APPLICATION WILL DE REFERRED TO THE DEPARTMENT.
3. IT WILL BE FOR FCO MINISTERS TO JUSTIFY THIS ACTION IF QUESTIONED IN THE HOUSE, AND WE CANNOT UNDERTAKE TO CONTINUE IT FOR MORE THAN A VERY LIMITED PERIOD TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO OBTAIN SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT CHARGES TO WHICH THE FUGITIVE OFFENDERS ACT. WOULD APPLY. OUR ACTION ALSO UNAVOIDABLY LEAVES CERTAIN LOOP-HOLES. FOR EXAMPLE, GODDER COULD LEAVE ON A DAY TRIP TO FRANCE WITHOUT A PASSPORT, HE COULD ALSO CO TO IRELAND WITHOUT ONE. WE ALSO COULD NOT PREVENT HIM FROM WALKING INTO ANY LABOUR EXCHANGE AND BEING ISSUED WITH A BRITISH VISITORS PASSPORT, WHICH AS YOU KNOW IS VALID FOR CERTAIN COUNTRIES AND LASTS FOR ONE YEAR. BUT WE HOPE WE HAVE CLOSED THE MAIN GATES TO HIM.
4. WE SEE NO OBJECTION TO YOUR ARRANGING SURVEILLANCE, BUT THE AMOUNT OF CO-OPERATION WHICH THE LOCAL POLICE COULD OFFER WOULD BE LIMITED BY THE FACT THAT NO CHARGES FOR ANYTHING WHICH IS AN OFFENCE UNDER UK LAW HAVE YET BEEN BROUGHT.
5. SEE MIFT.
DOUGLAS-HOME
FILE S:
HKIOD
LEGAL ADVISERS
NTD
NEWS D
OPA
PS/MR. ROYLE
MR. SCOTT"
MVD
CONFIDENTIAL
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