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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1989
OF
"AND IF IT IS TO HAVE ANY HOPE
SUCCESSFULLY INVESTIGATING ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION, IT MUST HAVE ADEQUATE POWERS IN LAW TO INVESTIGATE WHAT ARE INVARIABLY VERY DIFFICULT ALLEGATIONS.'
J
MR JEAFFRESON NOTED THAT BOTH THESE PROVISOS CARRIED WITH THEM CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULTIES.
THE ICAC IN HONG KONG WAS CONTINUING TO BE UNDER FAIRLY HEAVY ATTACK FROM SOME QUARTERS IN RESPECT OF THE POWERS IT HAD IN LAW TO HELP WITH ITS INVESTIGATIONS. HE SAID.
"WE THINK THESE POWERS ARE THE MINIMUM WE NEED то HAVE SOME CHANCE OF SUCCESS WITH INVESTIGATING ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION. OTHERS THINK THEY ARE EXCESSIVE IN TERMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
ON WHETHER HONG KONG WOULD BE ABLE TO CONTINUE ITS OVERALL ANTI-CORRUPTION STRATEGY IN THE 1990'S. THE COMMISSIONER SAID THAT ACCORDING TO PUBLIC OPINION SURVEYS HE HAD NO DOUBT THAT THE PUBLIC GENERALLY DID NOT WANT TO SEE ANY WEAKENING OF THE ICAC'S CAPABILITY TO TACKLE CORRUPTION.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS PROVISION IN THE BASIC LAW WHICH CHINA WAS DRAWING UP FOR THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION. FOR THERE TO BE AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION.
EARLIER IN HIS ADDRESS. MR JEAFFRESON SPOKE BRIEFLY ON THE HISTORY AND FORMATION OF THE ICAC.
——
HE ALSO EXPLAINED TO THE DELEGATES HONG KONG'S THREE-PRONGED ATTACK INVESTIGATIONS OF ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION. EDUCATING THE PUBLIC AGAINST CORRUPTION AND TO REPORT ANY SUSPICIONS OF IT THAT COME THEIR WAY. AND CORRUPTION PREVENTION.
OVER THE YEARS. HE SAID, FINDINGS OF PUBLIC OPINION SURVEYS INDICATED THAT THE PUBLIC CONSIDERED THAT CORRUPTION HAD BEEN A STEADILY DECREASING PROBLEM IN HONG KONG.
"IN PARTICULAR THE NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS WHO CONSIDER THAT THERE IS CORRUPTION IN MOST GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS HAS DECLINED DRAMATICALLY."
BUT THEY PERCEIVED THE BUSINESS SECTOR AS CORRUPTION THAN IT USED TO. HE ADDED.
CONFERENCE WITH
HAVING MORE
THREE SENIOR
MR JEAFFRESON IS ATTENDING THE ICAC OFFICERS: THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, MR JIM BUCKLE; DIRECTOR OF CORRUPTION PREVENTION, MR TONY SCOTT; AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS. MR LEUNG CHIN-MAN.
DIRECTOR OF
THEY WILL TAKE PART IN SEPARATE PANEL DISCUSSIONS ON VARIOUS TOPICS WITH GRAFT-FIGHTERS FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES. THE UNITED KINGDOM. THE NETHERLANDS, MEXICO, SINGAPORE, PUERTO RICO. PAPUA NEW GUINEA. AND ALSO FROM MACAU AND THE UNITED NATIONS.
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