You mentioned Sir Alastair Blair-Kerr's Commission of Enquiry. His second report was recently published in Hong Kong and in his speech to the Legislative Council on 17 October the Governor commented on the Blair-Kerr recommendations. I enclose an extract of the Governor's speech for your information. will see, the Governor is taking very determined measures to combat the problem of corruption and in this he has the full support of the Secretary of State.

As you

I entirely agree with you that all this adds up to a disturbing situation. The need is for the new Anti-Corruption Commission to get the flow of information going properly in Hong Kong so that the Hong Kong Government do not have to rely almost wholly on Section 10 of the Ordinance in order to tackle the problem of high level corruption. But you will know from your own experience how difficult it is to get complainants to give evidence in corruption cases. But the new Commission, with independent direction and help from the Royal Hong Kong Folice and also, we hope, from the Police in this country, should be able to tackle the problem firmly, quickly and effectively.

ENC: 1

Yours marty ACSL-

A C Stuart

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Department

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