TNAG-0198-FCO40-234-Prevention-of-bribery-bill-1969 — Page 50

CONFIDENTIAL

13

VISIT OF DEPUTY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE

(SIR LESLIE MONBON)

TO HONG KONG, OCTOBER. 1969

CORRUPTION

Note No. 8

The attached note was prepared for Lord Shepherd's visit to Hong Kong in June 1969. During that visit the Governor expressed the hope that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office would resolutely support the measures contained in a new anti- bribery Bill that was being drafted - see paragraph 2(b) of the note and in a discussion with the Commissioner of Folios Lord Shepherd promised his general support although at that time the precise nature of the proposed measures was not known. 2. The draft Bill has since been published in the Colony (on 25 July) for the purpose of assessing public reaction to the somewhat stringent measures it contains (particularly in relation to the public service). The views of the Hong Kong Public Service Staff Associations, the Bar Association, the Law Society and the Exchange Banks Association have been specifically sought,

3. A copy of the Bill has been received in the Department and has been considered by the Legal Advisers who have raised certain queries on it, a few of which are of a fundamental nature. These queries were discussed by the Legal Advisers and this Department with the Attorney-General, Hong Kong, on 9 September and the latter undertook to examine the points raised. We made it clear during these discussions that we reserved our views on the legislation as a whole until it was re-presented by the Governor after consideration of public comment and our own observations, when we would submit it to Ministers. There the matter rests.

4.

The initiative now rests with Hong Kong and the subject

If it is not one which we would seek to raise at this stage.

CONFIDENTIAL