TNAG-0259-FCO40-295-Legislation-for-prevention-of-bribery-in-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 34

CONFIDENTIAL

BACKGROUND

Much has been said over the years on the subject of

corruption in Hong Kong. Government departments, in particular

the Royal Hong Kong Police Force, have frequently been the target

for allegations on the subject. Usually such allegations are

based on little more than assumption and rumour or on sources of

information that the complainants have been unwilling to reveal.

That corruption does exist in Hong Kong there can be no doubt,

but its extent is a matter for conjecture and the difficulties of

dealing with it are well known.

2. No one is more alive to the dangers of corruption than the

Governor himself, particularly where it exists in the public service.

Hong Kong Establishment Regulations already contain strong

di sciplinary provisions designed to combat corruption that are

unique in the Colonial Service context (i.e. an officer can be

required to account for the accretion of financial resources

beyond levels considered reasonable having regard to his official

emclurents).

3.

In July, 1969, the Hong Kong Government published a draft

Frevention of Bribery Bill for the purpose of assessing public

reaction to the somewhat stringent measures it contained. At

the same time copies of the Bill were sent to the Foreign and

Commonwealth Office for study. The Bill is primarily designed

to deal with corruption in the public service (including a

number of privately-owned public utilities listed in a schedule)

but it is also aimed at persons offering bribes to public servants.

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