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Wednesday, November 18, 1970
Its composition would be altered so as to provide that a majority
of its members would not belong to the police force. It was intended that
a Principal Crown Counsel, the Establishment Secretary or his representative,
and an independent head of a government department the Director of Audit
had been suggested should all sit on it, and the addition of other persons
MAA K
would be considered.
The Director of the Anti-Corruption Office
as it would be called
would not
if the amendment of the definition of "director" was accepted
be a member. It would be his duty to place before the Committee all complaints
of corruption that reached him, and the Committee would decide which should
be investigated, and in what priority.
Facilities For Complaints
Facilities would be provided so as to enable members of the public
to address complaints of bribery directly to the Committee, since some
members of the public might, for various reasons
some discreditable
some creditable and
be reluctant to lodge complaints at a police station.
Also, the Committee would in future be appointed by the Governor
a gesture that would demonstrate the importance that was attached to its
work, and to the selection of its members.
Of the Bill itself, Mr. Roberts said he did not pretend, "and it
would be folly to expect," that its enactment would root out corruption.
But he hoped and believed it would, in due course, prove to be "a
substantial deterrent to bribery, and justify the confidence of those of us
who see it as a significant step towards the achievement of decent standards
in public and business affairs in Hong Kong.
/Before