TNAG-0682-FCO40-831-Political-aspects-of-administration-of-justice-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 7

CODE 18-77

$S 10/76

RUSHFORD

CONFIDENTIAL

Reference

NUCK 380/6

母

Ry Enter - pa

гра

Mr Rushford (Legal Advisers)

"A CRIMINAL CASE OF SOME DIFFICULTY"

1.

TJ30%.

Attached is an extract from the Hong Kong "Star" of 7 June which records the Hong Kong Court of Appeal's decision in respect of the appeals of former police superintendents Cunningham and Thompson. A very satisfactory result.

2. Mr Cater, Head of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, was in the Office today to see HKGD and Lord Goronwy- Roberts and I questioned him about this case. Mr Cater said that he had been very worried lest the Court of Appeal failed to with- hold the previous convictions and was now delighted at the result. He was particularly pleased that this decision, by the Court of Appeal, indicated that Hong Kong judges were prepared to "convict" on slightly less evidence than it had hitherto thought they would. Cunningham's and Thompson's convictions were sustained despite the fact that the integrity of a major prosec- ution witness had been compromised.

29 June 1977

cc Mr Milton (HKGD)

the

Cauffer

J David

Hong Kong & General Department K 245

233 4777

Soon with interest

Hark

you

A.R.R

39.6

CONFIDENTIAL