Restricted
CR 63/4518/70
COLONIAL SECRETARIAT
HONG KONG, 10th May, 1971.
the-
2.
ESTABLISHMENT CIRCULAR No. 26/71
[Note: Heads of Departments are requested to bring to the attention of all officers the provisions of the Acceptance of Advantages Regulations and new Establishment Regulations concerning Entertainment which are the subject of this circular.]
The purpose of this circular is to bring to the attention of all officers in the public service
(a) Acceptance of Advantages Regulations made under the provisions of Section 3 of the
Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, 1970;
(b) amendments to Establishment Regulations relating to the acceptance of entertainment.
Section 3 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance 1970 prohibits Crown servants from soliciting or accepting any advantage without the general or special permission of the Governor. The Acceptance of Advantages Regulations deal with the Governor's general and special permission for the purpose of that section. These are set out at Appendix I.
3.
Entertainment, however, is not an advantage as defined in the Ordinance. The acceptance by an officer of entertainment, such as a meal, is not, therefore, prohibited by the Ordinance. This does not mean, however, that an officer is free to accept lavish entertainment, or indeed any entertain- ment which could embarrass him in the discharge of his duties. An officer who accepts entertain- ment otherwise than in accordance with the amended Establishment Regulations relating to entertain- ment set out at Appendix II will render himself liable to disciplinary proceedings. These regulations will become operative on 14th May, 1971.
4.
Chinese translations of the regulations and this circular will be issued shortly. For the avoidance of doubt, officers should note that the English version shall prevail.
5.
Enquiries in relation to this circular should be made in the first instance to the Establish- ment Branch.
1
S. T. Kidd,
Establishment Secretary.