TNAG-0411-FCO40-457-Allegations-of-bribery-and-corruption-in-the-Hong-Kong-polic-1973 — Page 76

CONF I DENILAL

TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 1406 OF 6 DECEMBER. 1973

YOUR TELEGRAM NO 1239 OF 4 DECEMBER.

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION: LORD BROCKWAY.

THE FOLLOWING REPLY IS SUGGESTED

360

362)

QUOTE THE NEW COMMISSION'S TASK IS TO INVESTIGATE CORRUPTION AS IT EXISTS IN HONG KONG.

2. MRS ELLIOTT'S COMPLAINTS, IF ESTABLISHED, WOULD, IN ANY EVENT, HAVE AMOUNTED TO CONSPIRACY RATHER THAN TO CORRUPTION.

3. FURTHERMORE, IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE COMMISSION TO RE-OPEN MATTERS WHICH WERE CONSIDERED BY A JUDICIAL ENQUIRY OVER SEVEN YEARS AGO UNQUOTE.

2. THIS IS ONE OF MRS ELLIOTT'S OLDEST GRIEVANCES, DUE TO HER! HAVING BEEN SEVERELY CRITICISED BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE FOR REFUSING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS DURING THE ENQUIRY IN 1966.

3. ALLEGATIONS WERE MADE BY TWO YOUTHS THAT POLICE OFFICERS HAD FORCED THEM TO MAKE STATEMENTS INCRIMINATING MRS ELLIOTT IN THE STAR FERRY RIOTS. THESE ALLEGATIONS WERE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED BY THE COMMISSION, HEADED BY THE C.J., AND WERE REJECTED.

MACLEHO SE

FILES

HKIOD

OPA

LEGAL ADVISERS

NEWS D

PS/LADY TWEEDSMUIR

PS/MR ROYLE

MR YOUDE

COPIES TO

H K GOVT OFFICE

CONFIDENTIAL