TNAG-0408-FCO40-454-Allegations-of-bribery-and-corruption-in-the-Hong-Kong-polic-1973 — Page 26

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RECORD OF A MEETING BETWEEN THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY

OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS AND MR PC WOO

AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ON FRIDAY 14 SEPTEMBER

AT 11.00 AM

Present:

Mr Anthony Royle, MP

Mr R B Crowson

Mr M RJ Guest

CORRUPTION

•

Mr P C Woo

(Senior Unofficial Member of Legislative Council, Hong Kong)

Mr Woo said that corruption was always present in Hong Kong.

it was a relic of the Japanese occupation. In the colony, a licence had to be obtained for many activities, and anyone

concerned with issuing a licence was likely to look for a bribe.

Police corruption was the worst. For example, if a taxi driver.

was charged for obstruction, he would rather pay a bribe to

policeman than have to take a whole day off work to attend court.

It would be better if the Anti-Corruption Office could be made a

separate department, away from the police. Mr Royle said that he

had discussed all this with the Governor, who had some very good

new ideas. He thought his proposals should go a long way to meet

the problem. The case of Mr Godber was particularly difficult

for us because he had committed no crime under UK law. Mr Woo

said it was difficult for people in Hong Kong to understand why

Mr Godber could not be sent back. He had been after all a Crown

could not some action be taken on that ground? Feeling

in Hong Kong was high, and there had been student demonstrations.

servant

Mr Royle said we could act if Hong Kong could find evidence of

an extruditable offence. Mr Woo agreed that that was what was

really needed, but he thought that it won very difficult.