CONFIDENTIAL
Minister
Minute
by
21
Mi Blaker
Ans Genert
Flag A
241
Pre
Flag B 364
Rueu
Mr Youde
Watson
Sir D Wats
PS/Mr Maker
PS
Laynee
O.
suggested
added
o have with this adrice sentence to the draft. Mr Blaker will with is consider whether the Sey if I rate should see action is taken.
In that event, go the As the matter could want in ket
before
the S.sps's 'etion for East Africa a 10 tely.
FUGITIVE OFFENDERS ACT 1967
Problem
1.
De Washin
3i
There has been and still is strong public pressure in
1/2
Hong Kong for the return of Mr Peter Godber, the former Chief
Superintendent of Police who absconded from Hong Kong in June 1973
when action against him under Section 10 of the Prevention of Bribery
Ordinance was at an advanced stage. Sir Alastair Blair-Kerr, in
the report of his Commission of Enquiry into the Godber affair
recommended retrospective amendment of the United Kingdom Fugitive
Offenders Act 1967 to make it possible to send Mr Godber and others
facing similar charges back for trial in Hong Kong. We have to give
the Governor our final decision.
Background
2.
The background is set out in my submission of 6 December.
FCO Ministers had earlier decided that it would not be possible to
amend the law retrospectively to catch Mr Godber. We had however
tried at official level to reach agreement with the Home Office and
the Law Officers on a non-retrospective change in the Fugitive
Offenders Act to abolish the double-criminality rule in relation
to Hong Kong. We failed. We therefore suggested that the Secretary
of State should propose a meeting with the Home Secretary to try to
/reach agreement
CONFIDENTIAL
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