WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1978
NO RELAXATION IN GOVERNMENT'S EFFORT AGAINST CORRUPTION
******
THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON. SIR DENYS ROBERTS TODAY STRESSED THAT THE PARTIAL AMNESTY FOR PAST CORRUPTION OFFENCES DID NOT SIGNAL A RELAXATION OF GOVERNMENT EFFORT AGAINST CORRUPTION IN THE FUTURE,
SPEAKING AT THE SECOND READING OF THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION (AMENDEMNT) BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR DENYS SAID THOSE WHO MIGHT HOPE FOR SUCH A RELAXATION SHOULD BE WARNED THAT IT DID NOT.
HE SAID, +GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT STANDS AND THE ABILITY AND DETERMINATION OF THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION TO DETECT ANY RESURGENCE OF CORRUPTION ARE VERY GREAT.
+WE INSIST ON KEEPING HONG KONG AS FREE FROM CORRUPTION AS WE CAN MAKE IT AND WE HAVE THE WILL AND THE MEANS TO DO SO,+ HE ADDED.
SIR DENYS POINTED OUT THAT SINCE THE GOVERNMENT COMMITTED ITSELF TO FIGHT CORRUPTION AND TO ELIMINATE THIS SLURR ON THE LIFE AND REPUTATION OF HONG KONG IN 1974, VERY GREAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS.
+THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS OF HONG KONG IN RECENT YEARS AND HAS BROUGHT BOTH RELIEF AND PRIDE TO ALL OF US, + HE SAID.
EXPLAINING THE PURPOSE OF THE BILL, SIR DENYS SAID ITS OBJECT WAS TO EMBODY THE SUBSTANCE OF THE GOVERNOR'S DIRECTIONS TO THE COMMISSIONER AGAINST CORRUPTION IN THE LAW OF HONG KONG,
HE SAID UNDER THE PRESSURE OF EVENTS IN LATE OCTOBER AND EARLY NOVEMBER LAST YEAR, DURING THE COURSE OF WHICH WIDESPREAD AND DEEP-SEATED DISQUIET AMONG MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG POLICE FORCE BECAME EVIDENT, THE GOVERNOR WAS OBLIGED TO ACT ON THE BASIS OF HIS GENERAL AUTHORITY UNDER THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTIO.. ORDINANCE TO GIVE ORDERS AND DIRECTIONS TO THE COMMISSIONER AGAINST CORRUPTION.
+THE GOVERNOR HAS EXERCISED HIS AUTHORITY TO GIVE SUCH ORDERS AND DIRECTIONS TO THE COMMISSION FROM TIME TO TIME ON OTHER MATTERS.
+ IN THIS INSTANCE, HOWEVER, SINCE THEY HAVE AN IMPORTANT AND PERMANENT EFFECT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMISSION, IT IS CONSIDERED RIGHT THAT THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN STATUTORY FORM BY THEIR INCLUSION IN THE ORDINANCE,+ SIR DENYS SAID,