TNAG-0551-FCO40-646-Allegations-of-corruption-and-bribery-in-Hong-Kong-police-an-1975 — Page 109

(126)

}

CONFIDENTIAL

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1

GA Higginson Esq

Colonial Secretariat

HONG KONG

Telephone 01.

Your reference

Our reference HKK 14/1

Date 27 June 1975

128

Dear Gerry,

GOLBER

1.

LA!

REF

NEX

REF.

126 149)

I enclose a copy of a letter which Mr Godman Irvine MP has addressed to the Minister of State. We are recommending that Lord Goronwy-Roberts should tell Mr Irvine that we are consulting the Governor on the questions which Mrs Godber has raised, and we should be very grateful for your advice on our substantive reply.

2.

You may care to know that prisoners in the United Kingdom are allowed to write letters once a week with the postage paid from public funds and that they may write an additional weekly letter if they pay for the postage out of their prison earnings. However, we would not suggest that Mr Godber deserves to be treated any differently from other prisoners in Hong Kong in this respect. Please would you let us know what is your normal practice?

3.

On Mr Godber's possible transfer to the United Kingdom, we are merely telling Mr Godman Irvine that we are referring the matter to the Governor. However, although it might be technically feasible for Mr Godber to be returned to Britain under the Colonial Prisoners Removal Act 1884, we appreciate that the Governor might see strong political objections.

2

Yours

ever, Bmee.

BH Dinwiddy

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.