布政司署
香港下亞
畢道
*** OUR REF.: (5) in COU L/M 1031/75
* YOUr Ref.:
C.S. 41A
Dee Junius.
1501
REF.
།
98
COLONIAL SECRETARIAT
LOWER ALBERT ROAD
HONG KONG
1st April 1975
PA
14/4
Thank you for your letter of 6th February 1975 addressed to Mr. Clinton about the interest shown by the UK Royal Commission on Standards of Conduct in Public Life in the Independent Commission against Corruption (I.C.A.C.).
I delayed replying to your letter as the annual report of the Commissioner Against Corruption for 1974 was in the course of preparation. This report has now been prepared, though it has not yet been tabled in the Legislative Council and as such has no official status at the moment. I expect it to be laid in Legislative Council some time during April.
I am enclosing a number of papers which set out the background to the formation of the I.C.A.C. and the way the Commission operates. These are:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(a)
(e)
the Second Report of the Commission of Inquiry under Sir Alastair Blair-Kerr of September 1973, at Annex C of which is a copy of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance 1971;
Executive Council memorandum XCC(74)4 - Prevention of Bribery (Amendment) Bill 1975 which summaries the purpose of the amendments to the Ordinance purposed by Sir Alastair Blair-Kerr;
a copy of the Prevention of Bribery (Amendment) Ordinance No. 9/74 which amends the 1971 Ordinance;
a copy of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Ordinance, enacted on 15th February 1974, which provides for the establishment of the I.C.A.C.; and
the annual report by the Commissioner of the I.C.A.C. for 1974 which summaries the constitution, terms of reference and method of operating of the Commission.
I should draw your particular attention to paragraphs 6-38 of Sir Alastari Blair-Kerr's report in which he refers to the history of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and to paragraphs 120-167 in which he suggests amendments to the Ordinance. These suggested amendments are touched on again in the Executive Council memorandum.
/.....