TNAG-0492-FCO40-557-Allegations-of-bribery-and-corruption-in-Hong-Kong-police-an-1974 — Page 116

CRS 160

FLASH

CYPHER/CAT A

FM F C 0 251815Z

CONFIDENTIAL.

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVI

REGISTRY N.52

25 OCT 1974

iNKKI / 3

TO FLASH HONG KONG TELNO 915 OF 25 OCTOBER. 1974.

YOUR TELNO 1856: GODBER.

FROM STUART.

247

(HK)

(245)

1. THANK YOU. WE WERE NEVER, OF COURSE, CONCERNED THAT THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN ANY IMPROPRIETY, BUT ONLY ABOUT THE USE THE DEFENCE MIGHT MAKE OF THEIR VERSION OF THE FACTS, PARTICULARLY IF YOUR COUNSEL

WERE UNAWARE OF THEM.

2. PROVIDED THAT THE LETTER TO GODBER'S SOLICITOR REVEALS (SEE MIFT) THAT HUNT HAS OBTAINED IMMUNITY: FROM ANY FURTHER PROSECUTION,

SCRIVENER MAY WELL BE SATISFIED. HE REALISES THAT IRVINE'S

STATEMENT, EVEN IF CORRECTLY REPORTED BY MRS GODBER, WAS HEARSAY.. 3. THERE IS HOWEVER A RESIDUAL DIFFICULTY, SCRIVENER DECLINES

TO ALLOW US TO TELL FRENCH ABOUT IRVINE'S REMARKS. HE WOULD

CERTAINLY BE DISTURBED IF HE HEARD THAT PRENDERGAST KNEW ABOUT

THEM. WE CANNOT REJECT SCRIVENER'S DECISION, SINCE HIS APPROACH

TO US WAS VOLUNTARY, NOR ARE WE IN ANY POSITION TO TELL HIM THAT

HE MUST HIMSELF APPROACH FRENCH.

4. IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE WE HOPE THERE WILL BE NO LEAKS. WE

ALSO HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE NO APPROACH TO IRVINE AT THIS STAGE,

CALLAGHAN

FILE S HKIOD(4)

SIR D WATSON MR. MALE

COPIES TO:

MR RUSHFORD LEGAL ADVISERS

CONFIDENTIAL