TNAG-0411-FCO40-457-Allegations-of-bribery-and-corruption-in-the-Hong-Kong-polic-1973 — Page 75

BACKGROUND NOTE

1.

For many years there have been allegations of corruption

in the Hong Kong police and public services. In June this year,

whilst action against him under the Hong Kong Prevention of Bribery

Ordinance was at an advanced stage, Chief Superintendent Godber

of the Royal Hong Kong Police escaped from Hong Kong to the United

Kingdom. The incident caused wide-spread public indignation. The

Governor appointed Sir Alastair Blair-Kerr, Senior Puisne Judge,

to investigate the circumstances surrounding Mr Godber's departure;

and to make recommendations. In his report, Sir Alastair, amongst

2.

other things, pointed to the need for the establishment of au

Anti-Corruption Commission, separate from the police. The

Governor recently announced the establishment of this Commission.

The former Anti-Corruption Unit was part of the police force.

Mrs Elsie Elliott, a former Baptist missionary in China,

is an elected member of the Hong Kong Urban Council. She has &

reputation as a champion of the rights of working people, and has

for long been a critic of the Hong Kong Government and especially

the police. She has frequently made allegations of inefficiency

and corruption. In 1966 there was a judicial Commission of Inquiry,

headed by the then Chief Justice, into riots at the Star Ferry in

Hong Kong. Allegations were made by two youths that police officers

had forced them to make statements incriminating Mrs Elliott in the

riots. The Commission carefully considered these allegations, but

rejected them. The Chief Justice severely criticised Mrs Elliott

during the Inquiry for refusing to answer questions. She has had a

grievance on the subject ever since.

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