TNAG-0406-FCO40-452-Allegations-of-bribery-and-corruption-in-the-Hong-Kong-polic-1973 — Page 72

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TO ROUTINE F C O TELNO 895 OF 24TH JULY, 1973. INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON.

MY TELNO 787. REPORT OF GODBER CASE.

FOLLOWING ARE TEXTS OF PRESS RELEASES WHICH WILL BE ISSUED AT

6 P.M. LOCAL TIME 26TH JULY TO COÏCIDE WITH PUBLICATION OF THE

REPORT.

1.

PRESS RELEASE

COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS ACCEPTED

THE GOVERNMENT HAS ACCEPTED THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY SIR ALASTAIR BLAIR-KERR IN THE REPORT OF THE FIRST PART OF HIS COMMIS- SION WHICH IS PUBLISHED TODAY.

SIR ALASTAIR'S FIRST RECOMMENDATION PROPOSES AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 10 OF THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE. THIS WOULD ABOLISH THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MUST INFORM A SUSPECT THAT A PROSECUTION AGAINST HIM FOR AN OFFENCE UNDER THIS SECTION WAS BEING CONSIDERED, IN ADDITION, SIR ALASTAIR HAS RECOMMENDED THAT A SUSPECT SHOULD NO LONGER BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE REPRESENTATIONS BEFORE A DECISION TO

PROSECUTE IS TAKEN.

" IT IS VERY IMPORTANT,'' SIR ALASTAIR STATES IN THE REPORT, ''THAT WE SHOULD RETAIN A PROVISION TO THE EFFECT THAT NO PROSECUTION BE INSTITUTED WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL: BUT I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT THIS COMMUNITY DOES NOT CONTINUE TO TIE THE HANDS OF ITS ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND ITS POLICE FORCE, BY PERMITTING SECTION 10(2), IN ITS PRESENT FORM, TO REMAIN ON THE STATUTE BOOK,"

073

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT A BILL, GIVING EFFECT TO THIS RECOMMENDATION, WOULD BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AND ALL THREE READINGS TAKEN AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NEXT

WEDNESDAY.

CONFIDENTIAL

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