Allegations Against Government Servants
113. 169 allegations against officers in Government Departments were dealt with. 78 were referred to the Anti-Corruption Branch and after investi- gation, 11 were substantiated and 35 not substantiated, 32 are still under investigation. The remaining 91 cases with the exception of 29 cases in which the Target Committee directed that no further action be taken, concerned general allegations and were dealt with by appropriate departments. A sum- mary of action taken against Government servants involved in corruption cases which have been heard in Court or dealt with departmentally is as follows:
Convicted at Court Acquitted by Court
Court decision pending Dismissed from Service
Disciplinary punishment
Resignation
Retirement
•
Departmentally convicted but decision pending Departmental proceedings in progress Warned by Department Heads
Corruption involving members of public
Total
2
3
2
9
12
3
2
1
1
8
43
114. 34 allegations against members of the public were dealt with. Of these, 16 were investigated by the Anti-Corruption Branch and the remaining 18 cases with the exception of 4 cases in which the Target Committee directed that no further action be taken, were dealt with by appropriate departments. 38 members of the public were convicted for offences arising from allegations of corruption. One was acquitted; and one other case is pending Court proceedings.
NARCOTICS BUREAU
115. The prevention and detection of narcotic offences is a general duty imposed on all Police officers, and the illicit traffic in opium and its derivatives morphine and heroin, and the synthetic drug barbitone, continued to create a serious internal situation which required relentless action by the Force as a whole. This action formed part of Government's campaign against drug trafficking and addiction.
116. Hong Kong's drug problem is the direct result of a persistent flow of raw materials from external illicit sources. The interception of narcotics entering the Colony is primarily the concern of the Preventive Service of the Department of Commerce & Industry, whilst the Police Force is responsible for action against the movement, manufacture, distribution and consumption of narcotics within the Colony.
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