TNAG-0084-FCO40-120-Bribery-and-corruption-of-government-officials-1968 — Page 8

her informant to come forward, under secure

conditions, so that the matter might be

thoroughly examined.

Z

As regards the case referred to in the

letter,

post-script of the same anonymous

if Mrs. Elliott is prepared to divulge to the

Police the names of the persons concerned the

matter will likewise be investigated.

The second letter "Corruption in the Resettlement Department" was also sent direct

to the Anti-Corruption Branch by Mrs. Elliott.

Again she was informed that the alligations

would be investigated provided that more

details were made available. She indicated

that she would get in touch with her informant to persuade him to come forward, but he has

not yet done so.

龟

It is true that in 1965 a sergeant in the

Hawker Control Force did make an admission

to the Anti-Corruption Branch in which

mention was made of other non-commissioned

A

officers in the Force. The full investigation was undertaken, but it was the advice of the

Attorney General that there was insufficient

prosecuti

evidence to p secute anyone other than the

sergeant himself.

In my letter to you of 10 May I

Kar

explained that far from denying that

corruption exists, or attempting to conceal

its existance the Hong Kong Government are

making strenuous efforts to eradicate it.

They are, for instance,

continally seeking

to tighten up the law on the

/subject and

Flag B.

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Page

Page

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Dd.033009 Gp.863

Enclos. to 5

subject and an amendment to the Prevention of

Corruption Ordinance was recently enacted with

this end in view. Moreover, they are at

present considering other amendments to the

Ordinance with a view to embodying stronger

and more searching provisions than at present

exist.

4.

Corruption is, of course, a notoriously

difficult offence to pin down, but I can give

an

you assurance that if only the full facts and

details of any particular instance can be

Евониму

put at the disposal of the Police a thorough

investigation will be carried out. Bart it is

impossible for this to be done solely on the

basis of generalisations and anonymous

alligations. I return the enclosures

letter.

N.P. <

Hanguna

ما

your

1/10

age 9

age 9

Page

Page

Mr. Gaminara

ge 10

Reference..........with../11.

Flag

It seems to me that Hong Kong's saving fespatch below is not/entirely satisfactory reply to ours of 1 August at /7.

2. Mrs. Elliott's correspondent who wrote about corruption in the Resettlement Department makes a clear statement that Yau Shiu Hong of that department had his house decorated as a gift by the one of the contractors dealing with his department. This I would have thought sufficient detail to enable the anti-corruption branch to at least investigate the allegation.

3. It is slightly misleading to say that the matter of the Hawker Control Force sergeant was "reported to" the Urban Council. In fact Dr. Bell said raised it as a question (see page 420 of the Urban Council Official Record of Proceeding 6/12/65). We are given no details of why the Attorney General advised that only the sergeant be charged.

4.

The amendment to the Prevention of Corruption Ordinance mentioned in paragraph 4 of Hong Kong's saving despatch has now beenpassed.

B.

I attach a draft reply to Mr. Fisher.

Mr. Godden

Norman A. Smith

N.A.SMITH

3 October 1968

Reference

HWB 14/58.

Flag A (5)

Flag Ch

Flags Bar

Flag Al

A reply is outstanding to the letter (at 5) addressed to Lord Shepherd by Mr. Nigel Fisher M.P.. Lord Shepherd sent an interim reply (at 6) and we then referred the matter out to Hong Kong. We have only recently received Hong Kong's comments and whilst waiting for these comments Lord Shepherd received and replied to a further letter from Mr. Fisher on the same subject.

2.

In his letter (at 5) Mr. Fisher asked Lord Shepherd for comments he could send to Mrs. Elliott. I am afraid that no matter

/what

ge 10