TNAG-0409-FCO40-455-Allegations-of-bribery-and-corruption-in-the-Hong-Kong-polic-1973 — Page 86

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WITH THE MAIN STAFF ASSOCIATIONS WILL BE HELD AS SOME OF THE CANGES SUGGESTED TO CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS WILL BE CONTROVERSIAL

AND STAFF ASSOCIATIONS WILL, RIGHTLY, SEEK TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF THEIR MEMBERS. BUT I AM SURE THAT THE SERVICE AS A WHOLE WILL ACCEPT THAT GRAVE SITUATIONS CALL FOR UNUSUAL MEASURES, AND THAT HONEST OFFICERS, THE HUGE MAJORITY, HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR AND INDEED

EVERYTHING TO GAIN,

SIR ALASTAIR LEFT OPEN THE QUESTION WHETHERR THE UNIT TO INVESTIGATE CORRUPTION SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE PART OF THE POLICE

OR NOT. BUT HE IMPLIED A PERSONAL PREFERENCE FOR SEPARATION. I AGREE WITH HIM. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS QUITE WRONG, IN THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG, THAT THE POLICE, AS A FORCE, SHOULD CARRY THE WHOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACTION IN THIS DIFFICULT AND ELUSIVE FIELD. IN THE PAST THIS RESPONSIBILITY HAS CARRIED WITH IT FOR MANY, THE IMPLICATION THAT THE EXISTENCE OF CORRUPTION WAS THE FAULT OF THE POLICE. AS WE ALL KNOW IT IS NOTHING OF THE SORT. OUTSIDE THE PUBLIC SERVICE IT IS A WIDESPREAD SOCIAL PROBLEM, AND INSIDE IT CORRUPTION EXISTS IN SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS OF WHICH

THE POLICE IS ONLY ONE.

A FURTHER AND CONCLUSIVE AGRUMENT IS THAT PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IS VERY MUCH INVOLVED. CLEARLY THE PUBLIC WOULD HAVE MORE CONFIDENCE IN A UNIT THAT WAS ENTIRELY INDENPENT, AND SEPARATE FROM ANY DEPARTMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING THE POLICE.

WE HAVE THEREFORE DECIDED, ON THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TO SET UP A SEPARATE ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION UNDER A CIVILIAN COMMISSIONER. MY INTENTION IS THAT THE LATTER'S INDEPENDENCE SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED BY HIS POSITION BEING APART FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE IN THE SAME WAY AS THAT OF A JUDGE OR, SAY, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES COMMISSION.

HE WILL HAVE UNDER HIM AN OPERATIONS UNIT AND WHAT I MIGHT CALL A CIVIL OR PREVENTIVE SECTION. THE OPERATIONS UNIT WILL IN DUE COURSE TAKE OVER THE FUNCTION AND THE FILES OF THE ANTI-CORRUPTION

BRANCH OF THE POLICE.

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/ITS STAFF