TNAG-1101-FCO40-1351-Legislation-on-homosexuality-in-Hong-Kong-including--Report--1981 — Page 557

SECRET

-5-

One consequence of the Commissione r's failure to

interpret the terms of reference is that there has been no

overall consideration of the relevance or otherwise of

particular lines of enquiry with a view to discarding the

irrelevant. As a result it is probable that some person's

reputations will suffer when it is obvious that the draftsman

of the terms of reference never intended their foibles or

misdeeds to be canvassed by this Inquiry. This approach by the Commission to its jurisdiction goes some way towards

explaining why there have been over 9000 foolscap pages of transcript (with at least as many pages of witnesses statements/documents) since the Inquiry resumed.

It

appears that any matters of passing interest can be explored

in exhaustive detail (and reported by the Press) to see whether

it is relevant to the matters with which the Inquiry is concerned.

In any normal court or tribunal the adjudicator decides at

SECRET