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Wednesday, October 21, 1970
Mr. Roberts said after carefully considering the arguments for
the creation of a separate body, the Government had decided the responsibility
for combatting corruption should remain in the hands of the Anti-Corruption
Branch of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force. Evon with its present powers,
this Branch had attained a "steadily increasing level of success in the
past two or three years.'
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The setting up of a new organisation would show a serious lack of
confidence both in the Branch and in the Police force as a whole, and this
was in no sonso justified by past experience.
Poor Promotion Prospects
Also, a soparate body would have to be staffed by experienced
Police officers. He doubted if the Government could obtain the high calibre
of officer required for that difficult task, with the relatively poor
promotion prospects and the narrow degree of specialisation that would be
inseparable from the creation of a small, independent organisation.
But he recognised that the powers of investigation conferred by
the Bill were such that the greatest restraint must be shown, and every
precaution taken, against overuse. Most of the powers allowed in the Bill
wore subject to his authority or direction as Attorney General.
For those reasons, and because many cases under investigation under
the Bill would prosent legal and evidential problems of some complexity, the
Standing Finance Committee of the Legislative Council had approved the creation
of a now post of Principal Crown Counsel, who would be attached to the Anti-
Corruption Branch as his representative.
This