XN000022-1978-10-11 — Page 27

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1978

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STRENGTH AND VIGILANCE OF ICAC TO BE MAINTAINED

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, STRESSED TODAY THAT THERE CAN BE NO QUESTION OF RELAXING THE EFFORTS OF THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION, AND REDUCING ITS STRENGTH.

ADDRESSING THE NEW SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR MURRAY POINTED OUT THAT THERE IS MUCH MORE STILL TO BE DONE.

+THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOME PEOPLE READY TO INDULGE IN CORRUPTION, AND WE MUST THEREFORE BE VIGILANT AND EQUIPPED TO PREVENT A RELAPSE INTO THE SITUATION FROM WHICH WE HAVE JUST EXTRICATED OURSELVES SO PAINFULLY. THIS SPECIAL VIGILANCE WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE FOR MANY YEARS,+ HE SAID.

SIR MURRAY ADDED THAT HE HAD BEEN ASSURED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF ICAC THAT THERE HAD NOT BEEN ANY RETROGRESSION AS FAR AS SYNDICATED CORRUPTION WAS CONCERNED SINCE THE PARTIAL AMNESTY+ ON NOVEMBER 5 LAST YEAR. NOR HAD THERE BEEN A SLIP BACK INTO THE BAD OLD WAYS.

+WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT THE RESOURCES OF THE POWERFUL OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT ARE NOW FREED FROM DELVING INTO THE PAST AND ABLE TO CONCENTRATE ON INVESTIGATING AND MONITORING THE PRESENT, HE SAID. +THE WHOLE POSITION WITHIN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS IS TRANSFORMED FROM WHAT IT WAS FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO.

+THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT IN WHICH MANY HAVE PLAYED A PART AS WELL AS THE ICAC, AND IN WHICH ALL OF US CAN TAKE PRIDE.+

SIR MURRAY ADDED THAT WITH THE HIGH DEGREE OF SUCCESS ALREADY ACHIEVED, IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO PLACE INCREASING EMPHASIS AND RELIANCE ON THE ACTIVITIES OF ITS PREVENTION AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS DEPARTMENTS.

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