XN000022-1975-10-08 — Page 6

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ICAC MAKES ITSELF FERT

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1975

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THE .C.A.C. HAS ALREADY MADE A SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT SINCE ITS EXISTENCE FOR JUST OVER 1-1/2 YEARS, THE GOVERNOR SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON.

HE SAID HE WAS SURE THAT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD WISH HIM TO ASSURE THE 1.C.A.C. OF THE SUPPORT OF THE GOVERIMENT AND OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY FOR VE ALL WISH TO REMOVE THE TAINT OF CORRUPTION FROM PUBLIC SERVICES.

THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT THE ABILITY TO DETECT AND BRING TO JUSTICE THE CORRUPT AT ALL LEVELS IS THE FIRST TASK OF THE COMMISSION.

+UNTIL THIS CAPABILITY EXISTS, AND IS SEEN TO EXIST, NEITHER THE CORRUPT NOR THOSE ON WHOM THEY PREY WILL TAKE THE COMMISSION SERIOUSLY. DUT ONCE IT IS REALISED THAT THIS CAPALILITY EXISTS OK IS BEINGCREATED WITH DETERMINATION, CREDIBILITY OF THE COMMISSION IS THUS ESTABLISHED, THE WAY IS OPEN FOR IT TO USE OTHER AND MORE POSITIVE MEASURES AIMED AT THE DISCOURAGEMENT AND PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION RATHER THAN AT ITS PUNISHMENT, AND TO DO SO WITH SOME PROSPECT OF SUCCESS, HE ADDED.

THE GOVERNOR SAID IT IS URGENT THAT THE COMMISSION SHOULD BE PROVIDED WITH THE NECESSARY FUNDS TO ENABLE IT TO DEVELOP THE CORRUPTION PREVENTION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENTS ALONG THE LINES THAT HON. MEMBERS HAD APPROVED.

+THIS CLEANSING OF PUBLIC LIFE IS SOMETHING OVER WHICH WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOITER. MOMENTUM MUST BE STEADILY BUILT UP AND MAINTAINED UNTIL THE BACK OF THE PROBLEM IS BROKEN, HE SAID,

THE COMMISSION'S OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT HAS HAD FIRST CALL ON RESOURCES, AND RECRUITMENT, AND THE TRAINING OF ITS STAFF BOTH IN HONG KONG AND OVERSEAS HAVE BEEN UNDERTAKEN WITH ALL POSSIDLE URGENCY. AN IMPORTANT ADDITION HAS BEEN THE ENGAGEMENT OF EXPERIENCED POLICE OFFICERS FROM DRITAIN. THE FIRST RECRUITS FROM THIS GROUP OF 40 ARE ALREADY IN POST AID THE REMAINDER WILL BE ARKIVING OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. THE OPERATIONS AN OF THE COMMISSION SHOULD APPROACH A STRENGTH OF 450 BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

THE GOVERNOR DISCOUNTED ALLEGED EFFECTS OF THE 1.C.A.C. ON THE MORALE OF THE POLICE FORCE, WHICH HE SAID HAS RESPONDED IN A MATURE AND SENSIBLE WAY TO 1.C.A.C. INVESTIGATIONS, AND FAR FROM DEING DEMORALISED, IS STEADILY DECOMING MORE EFFECTIVE, MORE PROFESSIONALLY EFFICIENT AND ON DETTER TERMS WITH THE PUBLIC AND WITH ITSELF.*

/+THOSE WHO ARE