BACKGROUND NOTE
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MR PARRY'S PQS UN HONG KONG
The Chinese Government's Attitude to Social Progress in Hong Kong
1. The Chinese Government do not normally comment on internal developments in Hong Kong. But we have no reason to suppose that they object to any aspect of the Hong Kong Government's social development programmes.
Corruption in ilong Kong
2. Corruption has long been a problem in both the public and private sectors in liong Kong. Fublic concern over the extent of the problem came to a head in 1973, following the conviction of a senior expatriate officer on corruption charges. As a result, the Hong Kong Government established in 1974 the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), with the triple task of detecting and investigating existing corruption, introducing measures to prevent corruption, and enlisting public support in the fight against corruption through a public education programme. ICAC has special powers and the Commissioner is responsible direct to the Governor.
3. All the indications are that, since ICAC was established, large- scale syndicated corruption has been eliminated. liowever, smaller scale corruption undoubtedly persists, and as the Governor made clear in his recent speech to the Hong Kong Legislative Council, the Government are not complacent and remain determined to ensure that the momentum of the anti-corruption drive is maintained.
MPs Visits to Hong Kong
4. The Hong Kong Government have a regular programme of sponsored visits by MFs to Hong Kong. The purpose of the programme is to increase understanding of Hong Kong. Great care is taken to ensure that the visitors not only see something of Hong Kong's achieve- ments but are also able to appreciate the problems that remain and how they are being tackled. Time is always set aside for MPs to meet members of the public, to discuss any problems or grievances that Hong Kong people may wish to bring to the attention of the
visitors.
UNCLASSIFİM
15.