A
CONFIDENTI AL
ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE RHKPF)
The Police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC)
The ICAC was established in 1974 to attack the problem of
extensive corruption in Hong Kong. Much of the Commission's investigations have dealt with the Royal Hong Kong Police Force, with the result that last year Mr Cater (the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption) was able to assure the Governor that all syndicated corruption in the Force had been eliminated. It was only because of this assurance that the Governor felt able to grant a limited amnesty to some of those who had committed corruption offences before 1 January 1977.
B
The success of the anti-corruption drive inevitably led to hostility within the Force towards ICAC and its activities, hostility which was compounded by the fear of being caught out for trivial offences which was felt by a large proportion of the Force. Last autumn the core of officers who were suspended from duty pending corruption charges took advantage of this feeling and orchestrated opposition to ICAC. After a series of protest
marches and an attack on ICAC headquarters, a state of near mutiny developed in which the Commissioner of Police was unable to guarantee that his orders would be obeyed. In those circum- stances, the Governor had no option but to take drastic action. He informed us of his decision to grant a limited amnesty as soon as possible after the event and, HMG entirely support the Governor's action. It is quite wrong to assume that the Governor's partial amnesty (which does not apply to those already under investigation or to particularly "heinous" crimes) marked the end of the fight against corruption. The activities of the ICAC are continuing as vigorously as ever. The Governor has been assured by both the Secretary of State and Lord Goronwy-Roberts that he has their full support in his efforts to rout out corruption.
CONFIDENTIAL