TNAG-0409-FCO40-455-Allegations-of-bribery-and-corruption-in-the-Hong-Kong-polic-1973 — Page 115

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42. These proposals were agreed to. Each working party consisted of one or more members of the Committee together with others (mostly non-official personalities) co-opted by the Chairman of the particular working party.

43. Towards the end of 1960, Mr. Charles TERRY was appointed Chairman of the Advisory Committee. The other members were: Mr. R. C. Lee, Mr. C. Y. KWAN, Mr. BARTON, Mr. GOLDSACK, the Deputy Commis- sioner of Police and the Establishment Officer. During 1961, the Committee met 34 times and the Working Parties met 43 times. Several reports were submitted to the Governor the last of which (the 6th Report dated 29th December 1961) was a very comprehensive document which contained many valuable recommendations on a number of subjects including changes in the substantive law, changes in the procedure for dealing with disciplinary charges against Government servants, measures which Government should take to improve licencing procedure in the various departments concerned, measures which should be taken by Government with a view to changing the attitude of the public towards corruption (publicity campaign, instruction in the schools, etc.). There is no doubt that much was achieved by the Advisory Committee during the year 1961.

44. However, their 6th Report ended thus:

"We feel that this report, together with the 3 reports which we have already submitted to your Excellency, contains all the recommendations which this committee is able to make at this stage... We think that if the recommendations now submitted to Your Excellency are implemented the functions of the Committee will become more of a ‘watch-dog' nature, and much of the volume of work which it has necessarily borne over these exploratory months will be reduced."

45. It appears that no further reports have been made to the Governor. The 68th meeting was held on 3rd April 1968. Therefore if there were 34 meetings in 1961, there were a further 34 meetings during the 6 years 1962-68. The dates of the 77th and 78th meetings were 16th June 1972 and 3rd August 1973. The discussion at the 4 meetings held between February 1969 and March 1971 (70th-73rd) centred largely around the provisions of the new Prevention of Bribery Bill, and the question whether the Anti-Corruption Bureau (now termed Office) should remain under police control. There is no doubt that the Advisory Committee offered a great deal of valuable criticism and advice during this period. However, it is clear from the minutes of the 74th meeting in June 1971 that the then Chairman (Sir Cho-yiu KWAN) and Sir Sidney GORDON were beginning to feel that the committee was no longer able to perform any useful function; and at the 77th meeting in June 1972, Sir Sidney (who had been appointed Chairman) stated that he considered that the Committee had outlived its usefulness as the unofficial element in anti-corruption efforts was now represented on the Target Committee on Anti-Corruption. I accepted an invitation by the Advisory Committee to attend their 78th meeting on 3rd August; and similar sentiments were expressed by the Chairman on that occasion; but it was agreed that no further action with a view to disbanding the Committee should be taken until after this report had been considered by the Governor.

46. The present composition of the Advisory Committee is as follows:-

Chairman: The Hon. Sir Sidney GORDON, C.B.E.

Members: Mr. Li Yiu-bor, O.B.E., J.P.

Secretary:

The Hon. E. R. Ross, C.B.E., J.P.

The Hon. Oswald CHEUNG, O.B.E., Q.C., J.P.

Mr. R. G. B. Bridge, J.P.

Mr. Nicholas NG.

The Target Committee on Corruption

47. The Target Committee was set up in 1960 by the Commissioner of Police. It consisted of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Administration), the Director of Criminal Investigation and the Senior Superintendent in charge of the Anti-Corruption Branch. Later, it included a senior officer representing the Establishment Officer. The Commissioner's object may be gathered from a memorandum written by him in April 1961. He said:-

"The task of the committee is to evaluate and assess all information reported to the Branch with the object of ensuring that certain targets are given priority and the Branch is not overloaded with inquiries which could more properly be investigated by other formations, or are of no corruption interest. It follows that once having directed an inquiry the committee is responsible for evaluating the results. The terms of reference of the committee are, broadly, to assess and decide:-

(a) if the allegation is a matter for Police inquiry;

(b) the priority to be accorded each inquiry;

(c) the Police formation responsible for initiating action; and

(d) the results subsequently obtained from the inquiry."

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