TNAG-0198-FCO40-234-Prevention-of-bribery-bill-1969 — Page 37

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Hong Kong Department/

22 October, 1969

Thank you for your letter of 9 October about the prevention of bribery Bill.

I note that the Governor may raise this matter with us in December but I thought that I should reply now on the point raised in your second paragraph concerning unsworn statements by accused persons.

It would undoubtedly be objectionable in principle to discriminate against one particular section of the community

i.e. public servants) and in respect of one category of offence (1.e. offences of corruption committed by or in relation to public servants). However, if you expect to come up against tactical difficulties (and we are not clear what these are likely to be) in getting the procedure changed, we should have thought that the best time to introduce the amendment (on a general basis) would be immediately after the announcement had been made here of the intention to abolish the procedure in this country. Would this not serve substantially to neutralise any opposition?

If you are anxious to introduce the amendment sooner than this, we would see no objection to your doing so as soon as the decision has been taken to introduce it here and before any announcement to that effect has been made.

(W. S. Carter)

The Hon. D. T. E. Roberts, OBE., QC.,

Attorney General,

HONG KONG.

PA

ANG

23.10.69.

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