TNAG-0410-FCO40-456-Allegations-of-bribery-and-corruption-in-the-Hong-Kong-polic-1973 — Page 28

GRPS 184

PRIORITY

1

CYPHER/CAT A

FM HONG KONG 139532Z

CONFIDENTTAL

LAST

REF.

R=1.

33.7

CONFIDENTIAL

TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 1302 OF 13TH NOVEMBER, 1973.

YOUR TELECRAM NO. 1117.

MR. ALAN ELLIS.

RECE

[NICK 14/17]

WE HAVE NO OBJECTION TO YOUR PROPOSED REPLY TO THE GENERAL QUESTION ABOUT AN EXTERNAL ENQUIRY, BUT WE DO NOT CONSIDER THAT IT

WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO REFER ELLIG'S PARTICULAR CASE TO THE NEW

ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION.

2. AS YOU SAY, IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT THE COMMISSION WOULD DISCOVER ANYTHING NEW AFTER TEN YEARS. ITS FAILURE TO CO SO WOULD PROBABLY CAUSE ELLIS TO ALLEGE THAT THE NEW COMMISSION IS NO BETTER THAN THE EXISTING MACHINERY AND IS YET ANOTHER DEVICE TO COVER UP, RATHER THAN TO REVEAL, CORRUPTION.

WE THEREFORE SUGGEST THAT ELLIS BE TOLD THAT NO USEFUL PURPOSE CAN BE SEEN IN RE-OPENING HIS CASE WHICH HAS BEEN RE-EXAMINED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE PAST TEN YEARS INCLUDING A CAREFUL REVIEW BY YOUR POLICE ADVISER ONLY THIS YEAR.

MACLEHOSE

FILDS

HKTOD

OPA

GTB AND GENL DEPT

LEGAL ADVISERS

PS TO MR ROYLE

SIR D WATSON

MR WILFORD MR YOUDE

CONFIDENTIAL