CONFIDENTIAL
W
GPS Goo
IMMEDIATE
CYPHER CATA
FM HONG KONG 2329452.
CONFIDENTIAL
DESK BY FCO 281100 02
2.51
2 8 MAR 1977
роки зро
380
TO IMMEDIATE F CO TELNO 323 OF 28 MARCH
INFO PRIORITY PEKING AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
PLEASE PASS).
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION:
LANT
MR JAMES JOHNSON, M.P.
REF.
23)
NEXT
FCQ
IT IS ASSUMED THAT
(1) JOHNSON OBTAINED HIS INFORMATION FROM THE VERY BRIEF MENTION
OF THE COMMISSIONER'S SPEECH IN THE BRITISH PRESS (PROBABLY DAILY TELEGRAPH OF 1ST MARCH):
AND
(11) YOU HAVE SEEN THE TEXT OF THE SPEECH (IF NOT PLEASE ASK KIDD FOR COPY).
2. I SUGGEST THE REPLY SHOULD BE 'THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS NO
SPECIFIC ESTIMATE, THE FIGURE QUOTED BY MY HON. FRIEND WAS NO MORE THAN AN EDUCATED GUESS BY THE COMMISSIONER AGAINST CORRUPTION, MR, CATER, TO INDICATE THE GRAVITY OF THE PROBLEM AS IT HAD ONCE
EXISTED AND WHICH IS NOW BEING TACKLED WITH SUCH VIGOUR. ?*
3. THE FOLLOWING BACKGROUND MAY BE USEFUL FOR SUPPLEMENTARIES..
IN HIS SPEECH, THE COMMISSIONER SAID AT THE HEIGHT OF THE CORRUPTION ACTIVITIES IN HONG KONG THE MONEY TAKEN BY SYNDICATED
CORRUPTION THAT IS SYNDICATES OF CORRUPT CIVIL SERVANTS AMOUNTED
TO MANY HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EACH YEAR. I CONSERVATIVELY
ESTIMATE THAT SYNDICATED CORRUPTION HAS BEEN BRINGING TO THE CORRUPT
ONE THOUSAND MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR''. THE COMMISSIONER WENT ON TO DEFINE A CORRUPTION SYNDICATE AS BEING A GROUP OF GOVERNMENT SERVANTS
WHO COMBINE TOGETHER TO EXTORT MONEY FOR FORBEARING TO CARRY OUT THE
DUTIES IMPOSED ON THEM BY THEIR OFFICE OR BY THE LAW.
CONFIDENTIAL