IERSONAL
Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1
Telephone 01-
féle
282
Sir Robert Mark QPM Commissioner
Metropolitan Police Office
New Scotland Yard
London SW1H OBG
Your reference
TJKK 14/17
Our reference
Date
23 October 1973
Dear Sir Robert,
ANTI-CORRUPTION UNIT, HONG KONG
We spoke about the next steps to find candidates for the new independent unit being set up in Hong Kong. I have passed to Sir Murray MacLehose your very helpful suggestion that a short visit by Mr Anning might help both the Governor and you to take the measure of the problem, and assist in finding the right candidate or candidates for the job. Sir Murray has replied that, while he would greatly welcome such a visit, there might not be very much for Mr Anning to see until January when Mr Prendergast will have arrived in Hong Kong and the new unit will be in operation. The Governor agreed, however, that, if no action was put in hand to find suitable candidates for the new unit until January, this might well mean undue delay. He has therefore suggested that either Mr Cater, the new Anti- Corruption Commissioner who may be in London on other business in the next week or two, or Mr Frendergast, who will be passing through London sometime in November on his way to Hong Kong, should get in touch with Mr Anning for a preliminary discussion here.
This seems sensible to us. If you agree, I would now bow out of the arrangements, and leave it to Mr Prendergast to make contact with Mr Anning and to suggest the detailed arrangements for a meeting. Meanwhile we and the Hong Kong Government are very grateful to you for your continued interest and help. All concerned have hoisted in that Hong Kong must go through the Home Office for formal discussions on recruitment. But, as we agreed when we spoke together, your personal back-up help could well make all the difference if Hong Kong are to get the reople they need.
Yours encerts
A.C. Sh
A C Stuart
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Department
Copies sent to: The Governor Mr Prendergast
Copy also to: Mr Guest Mr Macoun
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