TNAG-0260-FCO40-296-Legislation-for-prevention-of-bribery-in-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 13

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Wednesday, November 18, 1970

Its composition would be altered so as to provide that a majority

of its members would not belong to the police force. It was intended that

a Principal Crown Counsel, the Establishment Secretary or his representative,

and an independent head of a government department the Director of Audit

had been suggested should all sit on it, and the addition of other persons

MAA K

would be considered.

The Director of the Anti-Corruption Office

as it would be called

would not

if the amendment of the definition of "director" was accepted

be a member. It would be his duty to place before the Committee all complaints

of corruption that reached him, and the Committee would decide which should

be investigated, and in what priority.

Facilities For Complaints

Facilities would be provided so as to enable members of the public

to address complaints of bribery directly to the Committee, since some

members of the public might, for various reasons

some discreditable

some creditable and

be reluctant to lodge complaints at a police station.

Also, the Committee would in future be appointed by the Governor

a gesture that would demonstrate the importance that was attached to its

work, and to the selection of its members.

Of the Bill itself, Mr. Roberts said he did not pretend, "and it

would be folly to expect," that its enactment would root out corruption.

But he hoped and believed it would, in due course, prove to be "a

substantial deterrent to bribery, and justify the confidence of those of us

who see it as a significant step towards the achievement of decent standards

in public and business affairs in Hong Kong.

/Before