CONFIDENTIAL
BRIEF J
(Defensive)
THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION
Background
1.
The work of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, still far from finished in Hong Kong, has aroused considerable opposition from certain sectors of the Public Service and of the business and commercial community. To some extent, this was inevitable and is an indication that the ICAC is going about its task vigorously. Some of the activities of the ICAC's Operations Branch, however, have aroused unnecessary and unjustifiable criticism from public opinion generally since they appear difficult to reconcile with the principles of democracy and English-style justice.
2. The Minister agreed that the Department should invite the Chief Secretary's views on the appointment of an Ombudsman to
The examine complaints arising from the operations of the ICAC. Department is writing to the Chief Secretary about this and will report back in due course. The Minister may prefer that the matter should be handled at the official level for the time being and may not wish to mention it to the Governor unter he raises it.
CONFIDENTIAL