XN000022-1977-10-05 — Page 32

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1977

NO LET UP IN WAR ON CORRUPT

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE TODAY EMPHASISED THAT THE PRESSURE ON ALL FORMS OF CORRUPTION WILL BE MAINTAINED INEXORABLY, DESPITE THE ENCOURAGING PROGRESS ALREADY MADE.

+CORRUPTION GENERALLY AND SYNDICATED CORRUPTION IN PARTICULAR MAY NO LONGER BE THE SERIOUS PROBLEM IT WAS BEFORE THE ADVENT OF ICAC, BUT I HAVE NOT THE SLIGHTEST DOUBT THAT IF CRIMINALS ONCE BELIEVED THAT THE HEAT WAS OFF WE WOULD SOON BE RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED, HE SAID.

SIR MURRAY TOLD THE OPENING SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT THE MAJOR TARGET OF THE ICAC'S OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT AT PRESENT WAS SYNDICATED CORRUPTION WITHIN THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

HE SAID HE WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE SUCCESS OF ICAC WHICH HAD ALREADY SECURED THE REMOVAL OF MANY OF THE CORRUPT IN THESE SYNDICATES, AND HAD DISTURBED THE ACTIVITIES OF OTHERS. SOME HAD CEASED OPERATIONS ALTOGETHER, WHILE OTHER WERE AT LEAST DORMANT.

+ IN FACT THE COMMISSIONER BELIEVES THAT AT PRESENT THERE ARE NO MAJOR CORRUPTION SYNDICATES IN ACTIVE OPERATION, SIR MURRAY SAID.

+NEVERTHELESS, THE EXISTENCE WITHIN THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF PERSONS WHO PROFITED FROM THEM IS UNACCEPTABLE, AND THEY MUST BE TRACKED DOWN AND DEALT WITH, HE STRESSED.

THE GOVERNOR SAID IT WAS PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT AND SATISFACTORY THAT THE COMMISSIONER IN HIS ANNUAL REPORT LISTED AS ONE OF THE THREE FACTORS WHICH HAVE ENSURED SUCCESS THE COOPERATION OF THE POLICE FORCE.

REFERRING TO THE CONCERN EXPRESSED BY SOME PEOPLE AT WHAT THEY CALLED THE OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT'S METHODS OF INVESTIGATION, SIR MURRAY SAID THAT THE OPERATION OF ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY NEEDS TO BE SUPERVISED PUNCTILLIOUSLY AND CONSTANTLY TO ENSURE THAT METHODS OF INVESTIGATION ARE BEYOND REPROACH.

+ I KNOW THAT THE COMMISSIONER AND DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FULLY ACCEPT THIS SINCE THEY ARE CONVINCED THAT THE CREDIBILITY AND ACCEPTABILITY OF THE COMMISSION COULD BE UNDERMINED IF PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES WERE NOT OF THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE STANDARD,+ HE SAID.

SIR MURRAY SAID ICAC HAD BEEN BRILLIANTLY LED BY MR. JACK CATER AND HAD BEEN VERY WELL SUPPORTED BY THE PUBLIC.

+ IT HAS ESTABLISHED THE TOTAL COMMITMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT TO FIGHTING CORRUPTION AND CHANGED MUCH IN HONG KONG THAT MANY THOUGHT WAS UNCHANGEABLE, HE SAID.

+ IT STILL HAS MORE TO DO, BUT I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IT WILL DO IT WITH SUCCESS,+ HE ADDED.

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