TNAG-0443-FCO40-508-Parliamentary-Question-regarding-visit-of-James-Callaghan--S-1974 — Page 19

CONFIDENTIAL

as a step in that direction.

The Governor is reconsidering the

present position and will be sending us his considered views.

The two problems are to find ways of involving the wills and the

energies of the people of Hong Kong in the processes of

government. But the difficulties of introducing any elected

element would need very careful consideration. We shall be

submitting to Ministers when we receive the Governor's views,

but in the meantime I recommend that we should not imply the

likelihood of any change. Meanwhile other channels are available

for people to make known their grievances and express their

views. These are described in supplementary number 10.

Corruption and Ex-Chief Superintendent Godber

8.

In June last year, while action against him under the

Hong Kong Prevention of Bribery Ordinance was at an advanced

stage of preparation, Chief Superintendent Godber left Hong Kong.

He is now in the United Kingdom. Section 10 of the Ordinance,

under which proceedings were opened, makes it an offence for a

public servant to be in possession of financial resources

disproportionate to his official emoluments, unless he can give

a satisfactory explanation. There is, however, no similar

offence under United Kingdom law. The return of fugitive

offenders from the United Kingdom to the Dependent Territories

is regulated by the "ugitive Offenders Act 1967, which provides

that a person may not be returned from Britain unless the offence

of which he is accused is also an offence under the United Kingdom

law. Consequently Mr Godber cannot be sent back to Hong Kong

unless the Hong Kong authorities can produce evidence of a

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