TNAG-1609-FCO40-22131-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 172

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Carrian

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Sir, then I turn in particular to Carrian because I want to say that

I share not only Mr, Poon's concern but the widespread concern

at the outcome of the Carrian case. It was an important case arising

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fram Hong Kong's largest: ever corporate collapse which resulted in

deficiencies of some HK$10 billion and which damaged the ferritory'

reputation for commercial integrity.

S

I would like to assure Mr. Foon that a great deal of care and

trouble was taken in the preparation of the prosecution case, and in

framing the charges. As I said in reply to Dr, Conrad Lam who wrote to

me in September on this matter, the case was complicated and there were

a vast number of documents to assimilate.

Consideration

was given

to alternative ways of proceeding. The decision to prosecute was taken

after receiving positive advice on the charges to be laid from an

Sc experienced Queen's Counsel in London, Mr, Harry Ognall, QC (who has

since been made a High Court Judge in the thited Kingdom), the then

Crown Prosecutor and senior members of the Commercial Crime Unit of the

Legal Department. The Crown also obtained advice from two experienced

se accountants, including Lord Benson, the former

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le