TNAG-0120-FCO40-156-Lord-Shepherd-s-visit-1969 — Page 103

CONFIDENTIAL

VISIT OF MINISTER OF STATE

LORD SHEPHERD)

TO HONG KONG MAY/JUNE 1969

Note No. 8

CORRUPTION

Much has been said over the years on the subject of corruption in Hong Kong. Government Departments and in particular the Hong Kong Police Force, have from time to time been the target for allegations on this subject (e.g. the recent CranadaTelevision film, shown both in this country and in Hong Kong, which was clearly designed to vilify the Police Force and to portray it as engaging in corrupt activities on a wide scale). But usually such allegations are based on little more than suspicion and rumour or on sources of information that the complainants have been unwilling to reveal. corruption does exist in Hong Kong (as elsewhere) there is little doubt, but its extent is a matter for conjecture and the diffi- culties of dealing with it are well known.

That

2. No one is more alive to the dangers of corruption than the Governor himself, particularly where it exists in the public service. In fact the Governor thought the matter of sufficient importance to merit a special reference in his recent Address to the Legislative Council (copy of relevant extract is attached). In the course of his Address the Governor mentioned two measures that are under consideration in Hong Kong to deal with the problem:

the preparation of a new disciplinary code to simplify enquiries into the conduct of public officers;

3.

(a)

(b) the preparation of a new and fairly stringent anti-

bribery Bill.

As regards (a), the new disciplinary code was extensively discussed last year between the Governor, the Ministry of Overseas Development and ourselves; agreement was reached on changes to be made. Hong Kong Establishment Regulations already contain strong disciplinary provisions designed to combat corruption that are unique in the Colonial Service context, i.e. an officer can be required to account for the

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CONFIDENTIAL