TNAG-1101-FCO40-1351-Legislation-on-homosexuality-in-Hong-Kong-including--Report--1981 — Page 492

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22. Q. ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS SOME POLICE OFFICERS HAVE WISHED

TO TAKE LIBEL ACTION AGAINST MRS ELLIOTT AND PERMISSION HAS

BEEN REFUSED. IF POLICE OFFICERS, FOR EXAMPLE, MESSRS BROOKS AND QUINN DO APPLY, WILL GOVERNMENT REFUSE PERMISSION ?. IF SO, WHY ?.

A. IT IS A MATTER FOR MR BROOKS OR QUINN (OR ANYONE ELSE)

TO APPLY TO THE GOVERNOR FOR PERMISSION TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION

AGAINST ANY PERSON IN MATTERS SUCH AS THIS (CSR475). IF SUCH AN APPLICATION IS MADE, IT WILL BE CONSIDERED IN THE USUAL WAY. OBVIOUSLY, UNTIL AND IF SUCH AN APPLICATION IS MADE GOVERNMENT CANNOT CONSIDER IT, AND CANNOT POSSIBLY PREDICT THE OUTCOME OF IT.

23. Q. WHAT WAS THE COST OF THE INQUIRY ?. DOES GOVERNMENT

THINK IT MONEY WELL SPENT ?.

A. THE COST OF THE INQUIRY IS ESTIMATED AT AROUND HONG KONG

IDLLARS 16 MILLION IN DIRECT EXPENDITURE. AS TO WHETHER IT WAS

WELL SPENT, REFER TO THE FINAL PART OF THE COMMISSIONER'S SUMMARY (PARAS 106 110).

24. Q. WILL ANY ACTION BE TAKEN IN RESPECT OF JUDGE DANIELL, WHOM

THE COMMISSION IDENTIFIES AS THE ORIGINATOR OF THE ''FRAME UP**

THEORY, STATING ALSO THAT HE HAD NO FACTUAL BASIS FOR IT (PARA 27 OF THE SUMMARY) ?.

A. THE JUDICIARY IS, OF COURSE, INDEPENDENT, AND THE CHIEF

JUSTICE IS THE HEAD OF THE JUDICIARY. IT IS THEREFORE

A MATTER FOR HIS CONSIDERATION.

MACLEHOSE

MINIMAL

HK & GD

LEGAL ADVISERS

COPIES TO:

HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE

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