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Mr. Laird
c.c. Sir J. McPetrie.
In Garnima
п
When
HONG KONG
you
her dead this
We might discuss, after whit 9 chell get
in touch with
Draft Prevention of Bribery Bill.
hiJ.
hi J. Mc Petria As I mentioned to you I am not happy with the recommendation
datin 153
in the submission below that we should turn down the Governor's
proposal to go ahead in Legislative Council with a Bill in the
form of the present draft.
2. I start with the premise that it is not essential that
coûte que coûte Colonial legislation must always follow the
practice embodied in the law of this country and that where local
circumstances justify it Ministers can be advised that some
departure from the norms of law and justice in this country can be
justified. I have in mind the Public Service Ordinances in force
in various African territories which embody procedures which would
be repugnant to public opinion here.
3.
I then assessed the consequences of either accepting or
rejecting the Governor's proposal, as follows:
Accepting his proposal
(1)
(2)
to the extent that the Governor and his advisers
are right in their assessment of the efficiency of
-
the proposed measures and this is a matter on which
one has to rely largely on their judgment - the
administration will for the first time be able to
tackle corruption in Hong Kong in a comprehensive way,
there will be criticism directed at Ministers here from
those in Hong Kong who are opposed to the measure in
principle,
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