TNAG-1581-FCO40-2155-Hong-Kong-Commercial-Crimes-Bill-1986 — Page 17

OCMIAN 6342

CONFIDENTIAL

DD 10010OZ HOKON

FM FCOLN TO HOKON

091420Z JAN

GRS 1141

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FM FCO

TO DESKBY 100100Z HONG KONG.

TELNO 58

OF 091420Z JANUARY 86

CONFIDENTIAL

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HICK 381/

तादाद

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

10 JAN 1986

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

REGISTRY

PA

Action Taken

FOR GOVERNOR FROM GALSWORTHY

OUR TELNO 53: ROSKILL COMMITTEE REPORT

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FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF PRESS NOTICE FROM LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT. THE NOTICE, WHICH SUMMARISES THE REPORT AND ITS RECOMMENDATIONS, IS EMBARGOED UNTIL 1200 HOURS UK TIME ON 10

JANUARY.

BEGINS

THE REPORT OF THE FRAUD TRIALS COMMITTEE

MAJOR CHANGES PROPOSED IN THE LAW AND PROCEDURES FOR COMBATTING

FRAUD

-

THE REPORT OF THE FRAUD TRIALS COMMITTEE IS PUBLISHED

TODAY (10 JANUARY). THE COMMITTEE, UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF LORD ROSKILL, CALLS FOR FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES IN THE LAW AND IN ATTITUDES AND PROCEDURES IF THE PERPETRATORS OF SERIOUS FRAUD

ARE TO BE SWIFTLY AND EFFECTIVELY DISCOVERED, CONVICTED AND

PUNISHED'.

IN AN INTRODUCTORY SUMMARY TO ITS 250-PAGE REPORT THE

8-MEMBER COMMITTEE STATES THAT IN RELATION TO SERIOUS CRIMES OF

FRAUD AND TO THE SKILFUL AND DETERMINED CRIMINALS WHO COMMIT THEM 'THE PRESENT LEGAL SYSTEM IS ARCHAIC, CUMBERSOME AND UNRELIABLE' (SEMI-COLON) IT OFFERS AN OPEN INVITATION TO BLATANT DELAY AND

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