TNAG-0409-FCO40-455-Allegations-of-bribery-and-corruption-in-the-Hong-Kong-polic-1973 — Page 49

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rejected it. I do not think we can do anything further to

persuade him to soften his speech. We had therefore better

accept gracefully.

3. It is not easy to follow his reasoning when he gives as

part of the grounds for keeping to the same line that he

believes the ideas in the last paragraph of his speech to be

well founded. No one denies that the best way to deal with

Godber would be to find evidence of actual corruption for

which he could be returned under the existing Fugitive

Offenders Act. The danger is that, by letting people believe

in Hong Kong that there is a real chance of amending the law

so that he can be returned without such additional evidence,

they may try less hard to find it. This is an argument for

stressing the difficulty of amending the Act. However, the

point is not sufficiently important to be worth making

separately to the Governor.

4.

I submit a draft telegram accordingly.

16 October 1973

Copy to:

Sir D Watson

Mr Rushford

Mr Champion

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ACS

A C Stuart

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Department

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