TNAG-0407-FCO40-453-Allegations-of-bribery-and-corruption-in-the-Hong-Kong-polic-1973 — Page 128

4

The Security Breaches at Kai Tak

Truth Daily, New Life Evening Post, Nam Wah Man Po, New Evening Post (communist) (29.7.73) and Sing Tao Jih Po (30.7.73) expressed their views on how two reporters gained access to Kai Tak's restricted area.

They all thought that the most important thing to do now was to improve security measures at the Airport to prevent similar occurances in future. Truth Daily, Nam Wah Man Po and Sing Tao Jih Po mentioned that the loophole could be exploited by smugglers and hijackers. They unanimously believed that to take legal action against the two reporters would be making a mountain out of a mole hill.

Amendment to Prevention of Bribery Ordinance

Hong Kong Times (31.7.73) said that the timely amendment to the Ordinance to eliminate existing loopholes in the law should be welcomed by the public.

Tin Tin Yat Po (31.7.73) agreed that the motive behind the amendment is praise-worthy but certain points of the amended version call for criticisms.

The amendment stipulates that the police should be able in the first instance to arrest and charge a person, and take him before a court, without the authority of the Attorney General. The authorities should carefully consider and explain whether this is an indispensable measure to fight corruption. In doing so, will Hong Kong be turned into a police state?

"People of Hong Kong have been urging that the Anti-corruption Office be detached from the Police, but it seems that the Government has no intention of doing so and is trying to strengthen the power of the Anti- corruption Office of the Police Force!" The paper said.

Britain's comments on corruption in Hong Kong.

New Life Evening Post, Wah Kiu Man Po (31.7.73), Fai Po, Hong Kong Times and Ching Po (communist) (1.8.73) reacted to the recent articles in some newspapers in Britain on the prevalence of corrupt practices in Hong Kong.

They all said that if these criticisms are true, the Hong Kong Government and the Police Force should face the fact and do their best to fight corruption to restore the good reputation of Hong Kong. Fai Po also stressed that we must never let another Godber case happen again.