XN000022-1990-03-14 — Page 17

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1990

THE ALLEGATION AGAINST HIM WAS ESSENTIALLY THAT OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS HE RECEIVED PAYMENTS FROM A BARRISTER AND A SOLICITOR IN EXCHANGE FOR FAVOURABLE TREATMENT OF THEIR CLIENTS.

POSSIBILITY OF

"MEMBERS WILL APPRECIATE THAT, WITH THE CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS ENSUING, IT WOULD BE IMPROPER FOR ME TO GO FURTHER INTO DETAILS OF THE ALLEGATION OR MATTERS THAT MAY BE ISSUES IN ANY TRIAL," MR MATHEWS SAID.

MR REID WAS ARRESTED ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER

27, 1989, QUESTIONED

BY ICAC OFFICERS AND RELEASED ON CONDITION THAT HE REPORT TO THE ICAC UN DECEMBER 1, 1989.

THE FOLLOWING MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, HE WAS SUSPENDED FROM DUTY BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE. HE WAS ORDERED BY THE COURT TO SURRENDER HIS TRAVEL DOCUMENTS.

HE WAS ALSO REQUIRED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION RELATING ΤΟ HIS ASSETS. HE FAILED TO DO SO AND HE COULD NOT BE FOUND.

ON DECEMBER 29, 1989 THE ICAC OBTAINED A WARRANT FOR MR REID'S ARREST. HE WAS DISMISSED FROM THE SERVICE WITH EFFECT FROM JANUARY 22, 1990.

AS TO THE STEPS BEING TAKEN TO FACILITATE MR REID'S RETURN TO HONG KONG, MR MATHEWS SAID THAT SINCE THIS WAS A MATTER FOR THE ICAC AND ITS ADVISERS, THERE WAS LITTLE THAT HE COULD PROPERLY SAY AT THIS STAGE.

HE ASSURED MEMBERS THAT THE QUESTION OF SECURING MR REID'S RETURN AND THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE EXTENT OF POSSIBLE CRIMINALITY WERE BEING THOROUGHLY AND URGENTLY PURSUED BY SENIOR OFFICERS OF THE ICAC.

MR MATHEWS SAID THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN BOTH SADDENED AND ANGERED BY THE REVELATIONS CONCERNING MR REID.

"NO ORGANISATION

RESPONDS HAPPILY TO THE COLLECTIVE EMBARRASSMENT OCCASIONED BY SUSPICION FALLING ON AN INDIVIDUAL

MEMBER.

"THIS IS MORE SO WHEN THAT ORGANISATION

DEPENDS ON PUBLIC

TRUST IN ITS INTEGRITY.

"MY STAFF, AND I MYSELF, ARE ACUTELY AWARE OF THE DAMAGE DONE TO THIS TRUST BY THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST MR REID, BUT THEIR PRIDE IN THEIR WORK AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE ARE UNDIMINISHED, HE SAID.

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"MY STAFF RETAIN THE POSITIVE ATTITUDE THAT THEY HAVE A JOB ΤΟ GET ON WITH, HE SAID, ADDING THAT THE SIX DIVISIONS OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT WERE WORKING AT MAXIMUM CAPACITY.

WILL CONTINUE

"I CAN ASSURE MEMBERS THAT THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO STRIVE TO PROVIDE FOR THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COMMUNITY THE VERY HIGH STANDARD OF LEGAL SERVICES THAT IT REQUIRES, MR MATHEWS SAID.

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