TNAG-0407-FCO40-453-Allegations-of-bribery-and-corruption-in-the-Hong-Kong-polic-1973 — Page 58

GR 200 CYPHER CAT A

REG

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FM FCO 221418Z

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PERSONAL

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TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELNO 826 OF 22 AUGUST. 1973. FOLLOWING PERSONAL FROM GOVERNOR TO ACTING GOVERNOR.

NOF

YOUR TELEGRAM NO.249. I RECEIVED THIS AFTER DESPATCH OF MY EARLIER TELEGRAM ON THIS SUBJECT,

WITH REGARD TO PRENDERGAST'S COMPETENCE, YOU WILL NOTE THAT THE OVERSEAS POLICE ADVISER DOES HOT AGREE WITH YOU, EVEN IF I DECIDE ON PRENDERGAST IT WOULD BE MY INTENTION TO OBTAIN ONE OR TWO OFFICERS FROM THE ANTI-FRAUD SQUAD FROM SCOTLAND YARD

AS WELL.

FOR THE REST I WILL REPLY TO YOUR OTHER POINTS AFTER I HAVE FORMED AN OPINION ON PRENDERGAST'S PRESENT CAPABILTIY. 1, OF COURSE, WILL NOT COMMIT MYSELF MEANWHILE,

I TAKE YOUR POINT ABOUT THE INEFFECTIVENESS OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST CORRUPTION BUT I THINK YOU HAVE OVERLOOKED THAT THE BLAIR-KERR REPORT IS LIKELY TO CONTAIN A RECOMMENDATION ABOUT AMENDMENT OF REGULATIONS THAT WILL ENABLE US TO GET RID OF POLICE OFFICERS AND CIVIL SERVANTS WHO WE KNOW TO BE CORRUPT

躇

WITHOUT REASON BEING GIVEN, 1.E, AT THE QUEEN'S PLEASURE. IF ACCEPTED, SUCH A RECOMMENDATION WOULD ENABLE US TO

WEED OUT PERSONS WHO WE WERE SATISFIED WERE CORRUPT EVEN THOUGH WE COULD NOT PROVE IT IN LAW, IN THIS CASE THE EXERCISE WOULD BE ONE OF IDENTIFICATION RATHER THAN WORKING UP A CASE AND THEREFORE WELL SUTIED TO PRENDERGAST'S EXPERTISE.

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SIR D WATSON MR WILFORD

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