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5. THERE WAS CORRESPONDENCE LAST YEAR ABOUT MRS. ELLIOT'S ALLEGATIONS
OF POLICE CORRUPTION IN CONNECTION WITH MINIBUSES, GAMMARA'S LETTER
OF 13TH JANUARY 1972 REFERS. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY PARLIAMENTARY
QUESTIONS BY MR. RANKIN: YOUR TELEGRAMS 470 OF 14 JUNE
AND 539 OF 30 JUNE 1972. AND MY TELEGRAMS 528 OF 16TH JUNE AND 602
OF 4TH JULY 1972 ALL REFER. I BELIEVE MR. RANKIN ALSO ASKED A MORE
GENERAL QUESTION ABOUT POLICE CORRUPTION IN 1971. BUT HERE NOT
YET BEEN ABLE TO TRACE IT.
6. MATERIAL FOR SUPPLEMENTARIES.
THERE HAS EXISTED FOR MANY YEARS AN ANTI-CORRUPTION OFFICE WHICH HAS
BEEN GREATLY EXPANDED AND IS NOW HEADED BY AN ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, ADVISED BY A PRINCIPAL CROWN COUNSEL. IT HAS A TOTAL STRENGTH OF 191. OVERALL GUIDANCE IS GIVEN BY A COMMITTEE
APART FROM THE CHAIRMAN CONSISTS OF TWO PROMINENT MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC AND THREE OFFICIALS OUTSIDE THE POLICE. ALL ALLEGATIONS OF COURRPTION OR EXTORTION ARE EXAMINED BY THE COMMITTEE, WHICH
DECIDES WHICH OF THEM WARRANT FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE INSTITUTION
OF A SEPARATE ENQUIRY WOULD SERVE NO USEFUL PURPOSE.
7. IF MR. JOHNSON PROVIDES DETAILS OF PARTICULAR ALLEGATIONS, THEY
WILL OF COURSE BE INVESTIGATED.
8. THERE WERE 74 PROSECUTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH ALLEGED CASES OF
CORRUPTION IN 1972. THESE RESULTED IN 58 CONVICTIONS AND 12 ACQUITALS, THE OTHER CASES NOT YET HAVING BEEN COMPLETED.
9. IT WOULD NOT BE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO DISCLOSE DETAILS OF
PARTICULAR LINES OF INVESTIGATION BEING PURSUED, OR OF ANY ENQUIRIES
MADE OF INDIVIDUALS ABOUT THEIR FINANCIAL POSITION. WHEN SUFFIC-
IENT EVIDENCE OF CORRUPT BEHAVIOUR IS AVAILABLE FOR CRIMINAL
PROCEEDINGS THESE ARE OF COURSE INSTITUTED, IF EVIDENCE DOES NOT SUFFICE FOR THEM, DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS ARE WHEN POSSIBLE. TAKEN INSTEAD.
FCO PASS PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HKLOD
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
OPA
PS TO PUS
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