were locked up. On the morning of 11th June, Mr. MCNUTT was able to confirm that Mrs. GODBER left Hong Kong on 7th June by Air France flight no. AF193 and that GODBER had left Hong Kong on Singapore Airlines, flight no. SQ631 on 8th June 1973.
Of these facts there can be no doubt whatsoever. In addition to the various inquiries carried out by Mr. MCNUTT and other officers, on 13th June, on the instructions of the Commissioner, Superintendent WEBB was transferred to the Anti-Corruption Office, and, as I have said, he has carried out an independent, and very thorough, investigation. A Mr. MOONEY, Passenger Sales Manager of a travel agency called Westminster Travel, said in evidence before the Commission that about 9.45 a.m. on 7th June a man telephoned and asked him to purchase a first class single ticket for a flight to the United Kingdom for a Mrs. GODBER; that later a woman, who gave her name as Mrs. GODBER, called and paid for the ticket in cash. Mr. MOONEY said that Mrs. GODBER looked "extremely nervous and pale”. Mrs. GODBER filled in a departure card at Kai Tak; and, from all the evidence, I am satisfied that she passed through Immigration Control in the usual way before boarding Air France flight AF193.
As regards Mr. GODBER himself, Mr. MOONEY said that at 9.30 a.m. on Friday 8th June, a man giving the name GODBER asked if he could obtain a ticket for a flight to Singapore on the first available flight that day. He visited the offices of Westminster Travel on 4 occasions that morning and indicated that he wanted a first class ticket by the earliest possible flight. Mr. MOONEY said GODBER looked apprehensive, and gave the impression of being an arrogant business man in a hurry. He inquired from MOONEY about visa requirements in Singapore; and MOONEY informed him that if he had a return ticket to Hong Kong or an onward booking, he would be permitted to stay up to 28 days in Singapore, otherwise he might have trouble with the Immigration authorities in Singapore. GODBER then said: "Fine, give me a return ticket for a few days hence"; and he then purchased a return ticket, the return half being for a flight on Sunday 10th June, the outward flight to Singapore being Singapore Air Lines flight SQ631. MOONEY said that GODBER paid for his ticket in $500 notes drawn from a wallet of notes of apparently this denomination; that the wallet contained a wad of notes about half an inch thick-so thick, according to MOONEY, that it could not be bent double.
MOONEY said that GODBER left the Westminster Travel Office about 12.30 p.m.
Airline passenger manifests are typed the day before; but the names of passengers booking in at the last minute are added in ink. As regards flight SQ631, numbers 501-511 were allocated for last minute passengers by the passenger officers at the checking-in desk.
Checking-in of passengers for flight SQ631 started at 1 p.m. It is evident from the passenger manifest for that flight that GODBER was one of the last to check in. No one actually saw him; but someone presented a ticket in the name "P. F. GODBER" at the airport check-in counter for flight SQ631 and that person was handed a boarding pass bearing the number 507. The check-in clerk estimates that this took place at about 1.45 p.m.
An Airline hostess (Miss Stella TSANG) said that the plane was parked in one of the "jumbo" bays (bay 7); that consequently an aero-bridge was used to convey the passengers; that she was at exit 2 and guided the passengers, both transit and those joining at Hong Kong, down the aero-bridge to gate 7; and that she collected the stubs of boarding passes of joining passengers and transit cards of transit passengers; that the announcement for passengers to board was made at 2.10 p.m.; that she thought she saw a man similar in looks to GODBER enter the aero-bridge, but she cannot be certain. However, there is no doubt but that a passenger boarding that flight handed in a boarding pass bearing the number 507. Flight SQ631 started taxiing at 2.33 p.m. and took off at 2.38 p.m.
There is no departure card in the Immigration Department records for flight SQ631 in respect of anyone named "GODBER”. All other passengers are accounted for by departure cards. However, there can be no doubt but that GODBER travelled to Singapore on flight SQ631. A copy of the Singapore Disembarkation card made out and signed by him and containing the correct number of his passport (viz. no. 57699) was obtained from the Singapore authorities by Mr. HENRY. A copy marked "F" is attached to this report.
Returning to Mr. MCNUTT's investigations on Sunday 10th June, all known acquaintances of GODBER were contacted. Everyone he spoke to denied any knowledge of GODBER's departure. Eventually at about 8.30 p.m. on 10th June, a Superintendent Kwok, who is known to be a friend of GODBER, said that on the evening of 7th June he had been at the home of Mr. D. G. LLOYD for dinner, and that Mr. GODBER had arrived at the LLOYDS' flat and had spoken to Mr. LLOYD. Mr. MORRIN then contacted Mr. LLOYD and the latter confirmed GODBER'S visit and also said that it was his wife (Mrs. LLOYD) who had accompanied Mrs. GODBER to Kai Tak on 7th June. Mr. LLOYD claimed to know nothing of GODBER's whereabouts, but he said that GODBER fully expected to be arrested on Monday 11th June. MORRIN asked LLOYD to submit a full statement of his meetings with GODBER. Mr. and Mrs. LLOYD submitted statements on 11th June and further statements on 12th and 18th June. Attached
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