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ZCZC LTX15, 051618 DXD201 YY TWX
223: PROHONGAID LONDON THREE:
GIS 33/77 (ADD)
YCX703 05-1613 YHE562
THEREFORE ALL CONCERNED MAY TAKE IT THAT AS FROM NOW THE ICAC WILL NOT NORMALLY ACT, ON COMPLAINTS OR EVIDENCE RELATING TO OFFENCES COMMITTED BEFORE 1ST JANUARY 1977 EXCEPT IN RELATION TO PERSONS WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN INTERVIEWED, PERSONS AGAINST WHOM WARRANTS HAVE BEEN ISSUED, AND PERSONS NOW OUTSIDE HONG KONG. I EXCEPT PERSONS WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN INTERVIEWED BECAUSE I DO NOT THINK THAT ANYONE WOULD ACCEPT THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS, WHETHER BY THE POLICE OR BY THE ICAC, SHOULD BE HALTED BY EXTRA-LEGAL ACTION. I SAY +WILL NOT NORMALLY ACT+ BECAUSE OCCASIONALLY AN OFFENCE MAY COME TO LIGHT THAT IS SO NEINOUS
IT WOULD BE UNTHINKABLE NOT TO ACT AND THE PUBLIC WOULD NOT TOLERATE FAILURE TO ACT. BUT IN ANY SUCH CASE I WILL BE CONSULTED FIRST.
MORE==
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ZCZC LTX153 051820 DXAC29 YYTWX
2244: PROHONGAID LONDON FOUR:
GIS 393/77 (ACD)
YBX 141.05-1615 YHE563
THERE IS ALSO CONCERN ABOUT THE METHODS AND PROCEDURES USED BY ICAC IN THE COURSE OF THEIR INVESTIGATIONS WHICH ARE ALLEGED TO SE EITHER IMPROPER OR ILLEGAL. A UMELCO COMMITTEE LED BY SIR SIDNEY GORDON ALREADY EXISTS TO MONITOR HANDLING OF COMPLAINTS BY THE PUBLIC AGAINST THE POLICE. ANOTHER COMMITTEE UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF SIR Y.K. KAN IS NOW BEING SET UP TO MONITOR THE ICAC'S HANDLING OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST ITS OFFICERS, AND ANYONE MAY PUT A COMPLAINT TO UMELCO IF THEY FEEL THAT THEY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY TREATED. I HAVE INSTRUCTED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO GIVE THE COMMITTEE ANY ASSISTANCE IF MAY NEED IN THE DISCHARGE OF ITS DUTIES.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WILL BE SPEAKING FURTHER ON THESE ISSUES IN THE COURSE OF THE DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NEXT THURSDAY.
INFORMS HONG KONG==REUTERS
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SENT GBS 1631
234 CL HKGOVT C
24 145
RTRLON G