4 ધ
BEOREL
was now being taken seriously.
Sir Murray envisaged two very uncomfortable years before the back of the problem could be broken. The police would have to live through a further period of feeling singled out for particulur enquiry until the Commission could spread its enquiries into other areas. He himself was satisfied with the Commission's work and recruitment was continuing. He thought that although it was difficult to be sure, there were grounds for hoping that corruption in some areas was already less prevalent.
12.
Lord Goronwy-Roberts said that Ministers had continued to maintain in Parliament that ICAC was doing a good job and that there was no need for an externally appointed Royal Commission. Only if ICAC ceased to command credibility would appointment of an external Commission have to be considered.
13.
Asked about the confidentiality of ICAC's investigations,
Sir Murray MacLehose said that the Commission never made any announcement about its activities in particular cases under review. He added that it was naturally not possible to give a clean bill of health in every case where ICAC decided not to prosecute.
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Department
24 April 1975
SECRET
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