CONFIDENTIAL
4.
SUPPLEMENTARY C. WE PREFER THE FOLLOWING:-
''THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION HAS RECEIVED A LARGE MEASURE
OF SUPPORT FROM THE HONG KONG PUBLIC. PRIORITY HAS BEEN GIVEN DURING THE FIRST YEAR TO THE SETTING UP OF THE OPERATIONS DIVISION, WHICH
IS NOW FULLY OPERATIONAL, WITH AN ESTABLISHMENT OF OVER 300. THIS WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED DURING THE COMING YEAR. 116 PROSECUTIONS HAVE BEEN INSTITUTED BY THE COMMISSION TO DATE. THE CORRUPTION PREVENTION DEPARTMENT OF THE COMMISSION AND THE
COMMUNITY RELATIONS DEPARTMENT HAVE ALSO NOW STARTED WORK.''.
5. SUPPLEMENTARY D. WE SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING: -
AN OFFICER OF THE INDEPENDENT
COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION, WAS CONVICTED IN DECEMBER OF ACCEPTING A PRIVATE LOAN OF 20,000 HONG KONG DOLLARS WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE GOVERNOR. HE WAS FINED 10,000 HONG KONG DOLLARS
AND HIS SERVICE WITH THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN TERMINATED. ALTHOUGH
THE ACCEPTANCE OF A LOAN OF THIS KIND WITHOUT PERMISSION IS
AN OFFENCE UNDER THE HONG KONG PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE,
NO CORRUPT INTENT WAS INVOLVED.
6.
SUPPLEMENTARY E. GREAT CARE IS CALLED FOR IN DEALING WITH
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE UNDERTAKING TO
MY ATTORNEY GENERAL
HAS DECLINED TO COMMENT AT ALL AT THIS STAGE. THE WAY IN WHICH
HUNT CAME TO MAKE A STATEMENT TO THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST
CORRUPTION IN THE FIRST PLACE AND THE WAY IN WHICH THE UNDERTAKING
WAS SUBSEQUENTLY GIVEN WILL BE DEALT WITH AS PART OF THE CROWN
CASE WHEN HUNT GIVES EVIDENCE ON GODBER'S TRIAL. THERE IS REALLY
NO ANSWER WHICH CAN BE GIVEN AT THE MOMENT WITHOUT AT THE VERY
LEAST THE RISK OF A MISLEADING IMPRESSION OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
WE SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING:-
"' THIS IS A MATTER WHICH MAY ARISE DURING THE
TRIAL OF MR.GODBER. I CANNOT COMMENT FURTHER AT THIS STAGE WHEN THE
MAIN CONSIDERATION MUST BE THE BRINGING OF THE PROCEEDINGS AGAINST
MR. GODBER TO A PROPER CONCLUSION.''.
7.
SUPPLEMENTARY F. WE SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING:-
''IT IS REALISED HOW MUCH INTEREST THESE ARTICLES HAVE
AROUSED BOTH HERE AND ABROAD AND IT IS NATURAL THAT COMMENTS
SHOULD BE SOUGHT, BUT HUNT WILL BE A CROWN WITNESS IN AN IMPORTANT. TRIAL. IT WOULD THEREFORE BE IMPROPER TO COMMENT ON THE ARTICLES.
2.
CONFIDENTIAL
18.