TNAG-0549-FCO40-644-Allegations-of-corruption-and-bribery-in-Hong-Kong-police-an-1975 — Page 90

GRS 1900A

CONFIDENTIAL

IMMEDIATE

LAST

CYPHER CAT A

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NEXT

FM FCO 151450Z

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CONFIDENTIAL

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 34 OF 15 JAN. 1975

FOLLOWING FROM HKIOD

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION: EXTRADITION OF GODBER..

1. MR JAMES JOHNSON MP HAS TABLED THE FOLLOWING PARLIAMENTARY

QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER ON 22 JANUARY, TO ASK THE SECRETARY OF STATE "IF HE WILL MAKE A STATEMENT CONCERNING THE EXTRADITION OF POLICE SUPERINTENDENT GEORGE GODBER TO HONG KONG AND, IN PARTICULAR, THE

CHARGE WHICH IS MADE AGAINST HIM''.

2. WE ARE PROPOSING THE FOLLOWING ANSWER:-

"FOLLOWING THE NECESSARY LEGAL PROCEEDINGS, EX-CHIEF SUPERINTEN-

DENT GODBER WAS EXTRADITED TO HONG KONG ON THE 6TH OF JANUARY.

THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAD APPLIED FOR HIS EXTRADITION TO

THE COLONY ON TWO CHARGES: FIRSTLY THAT HE HAD IN MARCH 1971

CORRUPTLY RECEIVED THE SUM OF 25,000 HONG KONG DOLLARS, AND SECONDLY THAT HE HAD CONSPIRED TO ACCEPT A BRIBE FROM ANOTHER

FORMER HONG KONG POLICE OFFICER, CHENG, TO SECURE

MENT AS A DIVISIONAL SUPERINTENDENT.''

APPOINT-

3. WE ARE PROPOSING THE FOLLOWING NOTES FOR SUPPLEMENTARIEST-

A. REASON WHY GODBER COULD NOT BE EXTRADITED EARLIER.

MR GODBER COULD NOT BE RETURNED TO HONG KONG UNTIL EVEIDENCE HAD

BEEN FOUND OF AN EXTRADITABLE OFFENCE. PROSECUTIONS AGAINST MR

GODBER UNDER SECTION 10 OF THE HONG KONG PREVENTION OF BRIBERY

ORDINANCE, WHICH PROVIDES THAT POSSESSIONS OF UNEXPLAINED FUNDS BY A PUBLIC OFFICER CAN BE REGARDED AS A CRIMINAL OFFENCE, WERE AT AN ADVANCED STAGE WHEN HE LEFT THE COLONY IN JANUARY 1973.

THERE IS NO CORRESPONDING OFFENCE UNDER UNITED KINGDOM LAW.

CONFIDENTIAL.

13.

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