HONG KONG: HOUSE OF LORDS PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION ON CORRUPTION
IN THE POLICE FORCE
1.
BACKGROUND NOTE
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) was set up in 1974 as a result of public concern over the case of Peter Godber,
a senior Hong Kong Police official convicted on corruption charges in 1973. The Commission is responsible for the detection, investigation and prevention of corruption in both the public service and in the private sector. It has wide ranging powers of investigation, arrest and seizure. It is independent of the Public Services Commission, the Commissioner is responsible directly
to the Governor.
2.
Although the Commission's activities cover all aspects of Hong Kong life, one of its principal concerns has been the Police Force. This has led to growing security and discontent within the Police, culminating in a series of mass demonstrations at the end of October. On 28 October a group of about 40 police officers, in plain clothes, broke away from a march to Police Headquarters and attacked the ICAC offices. Five ICAC officials received superficial injuries and minor damage was caused. A deputation from the marchers, who numbered about 2,000, presented a nine-point petition to the Commissioner of Police protesting against the
methods of ICAC.
3. During the subsequent week it became clear that the main aim of the malcontents, many of whom were already under investigation for corruption, was less to obtain some change in ICAC's activities than to bring them to a halt.
4.
The position by 5 November had deteriorated to such an extent that the Commissioner of Police could no longer assure the Governor that he could control the Force. As a result the Governor announced an amnesty for all accused of corruption committed before 1 January 1977 except those already under