explains the discrepancy between the United Kingdom and Hong Kong law that prevents the return of Mr. Godber to Hong Kong at the present. The United Kingdom Fugitive Offenders Act, which governs such returns, provides that an accused person can only be returned from this country to a dependent territory when the offence of which he is accused is known to the law of both countries. The Prevention of Bribery Ordinance which was introduced in Hong Kong in 1970 embodied some very stringent provisions which have no counterpart in English law. However, the Government accepted that in the particular circumstances of ilong Kong these provisions of the Ordinance were the only effective way of dealing with some corrupt officials. The Ordinance was therefore approved. It is a great pity that Mr. Goaber was able to escape from Hong Kong and has so far evaded trial. However, it is the lack of evidence of an extraditable offence which, following the failure to hold him in Hong Kong to stand trial for the offence with which he has been charged, has led to this situation. It is not the legal system which is at fault. I think that the case of
now proceeding in Hong Kong is a good example of the effect- iveness of the measures contained in the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
As for the Government's long term policy as regards Hong Kong, this remains as I have explained it in Parliament on several occasions. There is no reason for any constitutional change. The people of Hong Kong live under the British flag because they choose to do so. The immediate need is to develop the colony as a place where the overwhelmingly Chinese population will continue to wish to live and work. This means securing the framework of law and order and effective and impartial administration. It also means a new drive in the development of social welfare, health, housing, education, labour legislation, recreational facilities, and so on. The Hong Kong Government's 10 year programme is very impressive. For example, it involves building new housing at public expense for 1.8 million people, almost half the population
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