1961, 422 complaints alleging corruption were made to the police, while, in response to repeated publicity asking for the public to come forward with their grievances about corruption and delays in Government procedures, only 28 complaints have been received by this Committee.”
219. This question was also very much in the mind of the then Attorney General during his visit to Ceylon and in the minds of Mr. JONES and Mr. Law during their visit to Singapore in 1968. In his report dated 18th April 1968, the Attorney General said:-
"I consider that there would be considerable advantage in the establishment of a new and separate Anti-Corruption Office in Hong Kong, charged with the responsibility of investigating and prosecuting in the courts or before disciplinary tribunals, all offences of corruption in the public service. To avoid wasteful duplication, the office should also deal with other criminal or disciplinary offences which are disclosed during its investigations. There would be no difficulty in this extension of its jurisdiction if the office were to form part of the Attorney General's Chambers.
For a number of reasons, the most important of which seems to me to be to convince the public that the problem is really being tackled vigorously, it seems desirable that the office should be in- dependent of the police.
I favour the Singapore system, under which the office comes under the control of the Attorney General, with its director of the rank of Principal Crown Counsel, assisted by a number of Crown Counsel and a substantial staff of experienced police officers.
While it is possible to argue in favour of recruiting investigators for this office on a permanent basis, I think that the balance of advantage lies in long-term secondments from the Police Force. These might be for minimum periods of about 5 years and the seconded officers should receive some special inducement to undertake this arduous and unpleasant work and should have their prospects of promotion fully protected. Perhaps it would help if the rank structure of the office were kept flexible, so that a seconded officer due for promotion by virtue of his seniority in the main police force would still receive it in the Anti-Corruption Office; thus the office would have an establishment of so many police officers, rather than of so many officers of each rank."
220. In his report dated 13th March 1968, Mr. JONES said:
"I believe the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau has enjoyed a large measure of success in its attempts to combat corruption in Singapore. I am also satisfied that this success is due, not only to the dedication and ability of its officers, but also to the fact that the Bureau is an organization com- pletely divorced from and independent of the Police Force.
2. In the discussions I had with the Commissioner of Police, he acknowledged the successes enjoyed by the Bureau and I gained the impression that he recognized the advantage of having a body of trained investigators who, unlike police officers, were not liable to transfer from one branch of the Force to another but could devote their whole skill and ability to one end. Further, the fact was mentioned that it is never easy for a police officer to investigate a fellow officer, especially one with whom he has perhaps 'grown up' in the Force. It is unfortunately true that corruption is found from time to time in a Police Force as in any other organization.
3. The Bureau's activities extend into the realms of commerce and industry and Mr. CORRIDON informed me that a number of successful investigations had been concluded in this field. It does seem that the Bureau has succeeded in making its presence felt in Singapore and the reason for such success must, to a considerable degree, be due to the willingness of the officers to work such hours as may be demanded of them. Further, the Singapore Government has made it clearly understood that the Bureau is its principal weapon in its attempt to combat corruption and that the Bureau is there to assist anyone in need of advice or assistance.
4. I believe that an organization on lines similar to those of the Bureau could profitably be created in Hong Kong but I have reservations as to the full measure of its success. These reserva- tions exist largely because of the different political atmosphere in Singapore. I trust I will not be misunderstood if I say that there appears to be a greater unity of purpose in the recently created Republic than is to be found in the Colony. This is reflected in what I can only describe as the obvious dedication of the officers of the Bureau and the spirit of co-operation which one can sense."
221. Mr. Law in his report dated 6th April 1968 confirmed Mr. JONES' impressions in this respect.
222. In a memorandum dated 15th July 1968, the then Commissioner of Police Hong Kong, said:-
"There is now hope for the enactment of a realistic Prevention of Corruption Ordinance and a complete overhaul of Government's disciplinary procedure. When this is done greater success by A. C. Branch
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