CONFIDENTIAL
RECORD CF A MEETING BETWEEN LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS AND THE GOVERNOR
OF HONG KONG HELD IN THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ON
TUESDAY 2 DECEMBER AT 10.45 am
Those Present:
Lord Goronwy-Roberts
Sir Duncan Watson
Mr Larmour
Mr Male
Mr O'Keeffe
Mr Galsworthy
Mr Hurst, Deputy Labour Adviser
Mr Milton
Mr Janvrin
CORRUPTION
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Sir Murray MacLehose
Mr Kidd, Hong Kong Government
Office
This Copy for: HK 14),
Infor...rica onlyfaction en
Pera(s)
12. Lord Goronwy-Roberts asked the Governor how the Independent
The Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) was doing in Hong Kong. Governor said that it had built up its ability to detect corruption very satisfactorily, and was now not only responding to complaints
He paid but taking the initiative in investigating corruption.
tribute to Mr Prendergast, Deputy Commissioner of the ICAC, whom he considered to have constructed a very efficient machine which was . successful in bringing to trial individuals involved in corruption and had established itself with the public in Hong Kong. There was criticism of the ICAC but that was to be expected and was to an extent a sign of its success. There was concern about both the wide powers given to the Commission and its effects on the morale of the police. In his opinion, he thought that police morale was
it was now higher than before despite the anti-corruption drive: much more dependent on the success of their fight against crime. In answer to a question the Governor added that the police were not quite up to strength, but there were major changes proposed including doubling the strength of the CID, recruiting to the limit.of their training capacity and reviewing comprehensively the whole manning and establishment structure of the force.
Hong Kong and Indian Ocean Department
22 December 1975
CONVIDENTIAL
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