TNAG-0416-FCO40-462-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 4

+

t

FS Mr Royle

CONFIDENTIAL

fill

141119/3

116

Fog A

INTERVIEW WITH SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST

1.

I understand that Mr Royle will be seeing someone from

the newspaper at 11 am on 19 June. Mr Crowson will attend the

call. Apart from questions with which Mr Royle is already

familiar, the following two subjects may be raised:

(a) Police Corruption and Fugitive Offenders

2. I attach the telegrams on Chief Superintendent Godber.

The South China Morning Post are interested in this and tried

to get a personal reaction to the story from the Secretary of

State.

3. The situation is that Mr Godber left Hong Kong in advance

of a charge under the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. This

in effect requires a public officer to explain how he has

received unusual wealth. We have heard privately from Hong Kong

that about HK$4 million may be involved. Mr Godber came to this

country and is believed at present to be at Rye in Sussex.

4. The Governor has set up a commission of inquiry into his

departure and into the working of the Prevention of Bribery

Ordinance. This will be known to the South China Morning Post.

The newspaper will be interested in why, in this case, Mr Godber

has not been arrested in this country and returned to Hong Kong.

The real answer is that this section of the Prevention of Bribery

Ordinance is only evoked when there is any real proof of

corruption.

no

There is no offence of this kind in UK law and

CONFIDENTIAL

/therefore