XN000022-1973-10-17 — Page 4

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Wednesday, October 17, 1973

Sir Murray said the intention was that the independence of the

Commissioner for Anti-Corruption should be established by his position being

apart from the civil service in the same way as that of a judge. He would

have access to the Governor at any time. "I need scarcely say that I will

take a very close personal interest in the development of this commission."

The Commissioner will have under him an operations unit and a civil or

preventive section. The operations unit will in due course take over the

functions of the present Anti-Corruption Branch.

Its staff will be selected by the Commissioner for Anti-Corruption and

his Director of Operations.

The main task of the civil unit will be to educate the public as to the

evils of corruption not only from the point of view of the receiver but also

from that of the giver. It will also critically examine administrative procedures

which lend themselves to corrupt practices.

Sir Murray emphasised that the creation of an independent anti-corruption

body was not meant as a critician of the Force.

He added, however: "I believe that it is quite wrong, in the special

circumstances of Hong Kong, that the police, as a force, should carry the whole

responsibility for action in this difficult and elusive field."

In the past, he went on, this responsibility had carried with it for

many, the implication that the existence of corruption was the fault of the police.

"As we all know it as nothing of the sort. Outside the public service

it is a widespread problem, and inside it corruption exists in several departments

of which the police is only one.

Moreover, I think the situation calls for an organisation, led by men

of high rank and status, which can devote its whole time to the eradication

of this evil," Sir Murray said.

A further