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THE MATTER OURSELVES, WE YOULD OF COURSE LISTEN TO ANY FURTHER
REPRESENTATIONS WHICH MIGHT BE MADE TO US.
(D) CHINESE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.
(ON LINES OF MR ENNALS'S REPLY TO MR BIGGS-DAVISON MP ON 21
JANUARY).
(E) DEFENCE,
THE PRESENT AGREEMENT ON HONG KONG'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE COST OF THE GARRISON EXPIRES IN MARCH 1976. THE SUCCESSOR AGREEMENT HAS ALREADY BEEN THE SUBJECT OF EXPLORATORY DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS AT OFFICIAL LEVEL.
(F) KOWLOON WALLED CITY.
I VISITED THE WALLED CITY WHILE I WAS IN HONG KONG, AND (I AGREE) IT IS DESIRABLE THAT CONDITIONS THERE BE FURTHER IMPROVED. BUT THERE ARE COMPLEX POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS, AND ANY ROOT - AND - BRANCH REFORM COULD WELL BE COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE.
(G) DEATH PENALTY.
MY RIGHT HON. FRIEND THE SECRETARY OF STATE WAS TOLD LAST YEAR BY THE GOVERNOR THAT OPINION IN HONG KONG STRONGLY FAVOURS THE USE OF THE DEATH PENALTY IN EXTREME CASES. THE GOVERNOR IN TURN IS AWARE OF THE CLIMATE OF PARLIAMENTARY OPINION IN THE UK. WHILE I WAS IN HONG KONG I EXPLAINED VERY FRANKLY THE RELEVANCE TO THIS QUESTION OF THE POLITICAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THIS COUNTRY AND HONG KONG. I THINK THE POINT WAS UNDERSTOOD.
(H) POLICE AND PUBLIC SERVICE RECRUITMENT.
HMG ARE BROADLY SATISFIED WITH THE EXISTING STANDARDS AND METHODS OF RECRUITMENT. EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO ATTRACT THE BEST POSSIBLE
CANDIDATES.
(1) CORRUPTION.
AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION WAS ESTABLISHED IN FEBRUARY 1974. ITS FUNCTIONS ARE TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS OF CORRUPTION, TO TAKE STEPS FOR THE PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION, AND TO ENLIST COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR ITS ELIMINATION. (IF PRESSED ON THE POSSIBLE NEED FOR A ROYAL COMMISSION)
I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE MEASURES AGAINST CORRUPTION WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN TAKEN BY THE GOVERNOR, IN PARTICULAR THE SETTING UP OF THE ICAC. THE COMMISSION IS STILL IN ITS FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION, HAS ALREADY ACHIEVED DISTINCT SUCCESS, AND SHOULD BE ALLOWED
A PROPER OPPORTUNITY TO FULFIL ITS TASK.
IF PRESSED ON ALLEGATIONS THAT 90 PER CENT OF THE HONG KONG POLICE FORCE ARC CORRUPT)
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