TNAG-0407-FCO40-453-Allegations-of-bribery-and-corruption-in-the-Hong-Kong-polic-1973 — Page 91

From the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London S.W.1

13 August, 1973

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Thank you for your letter of 30 July about the Sunday Times article on the Godber case in Hong Kong. As you say, Mr. Alan Ellis raised the question of corruption in the Hong Kong Police Force following the termination of his probationary appointment in the Hong Kong Police. For many years there have been allegations of corruption in the Hong Kong Police. The Anti-Corruption Branch which was set up to take action against corruption has brought a sizeable number of corrupt policemen to book over the years.

I can assure you that Mr. Ellis's allegations were fully and properly investigated and all the information he gave us at the time was passed on to the Hong Kong authoritics. But I think a distinction should be drawn between Mr. Ellis's complaints about the handling of his own personal case and his more general allegations about corruption in the Hong Kong Police Force. The basic fact is that Mr. Ellis's probationary appointment was terminated in 1963 on the grounds of his temperamental unsuitability for a career in the Folice Force. His particular failing, as shown during his police service and in other circumstances, was a reluctance to accept discipline and guidance when they conflicted with his own opinions. I am satisfied that the Hong Kong Government acted properly in terminating his appointment. His case has been looked into many times as a result of his continual representations to various Members of Parliament.

I myself met him on 5 April this year and subsequently asked the Inspector General of Colonial Police to examine again Mr. Ellis's complaints and allegations about the 1963 and 1965 enquiries into his case in Hong Kong. After a thorough examination of the case, the Inspector General is satisfied that these enquiries were entirely adequate in the circumstances. Mr. Ellis, incidentally, is now one of my own constituents.

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