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there seems small possibility of any change. If Sir Albert asks
about amendment of the Act, the Minister could say that, although
we were still thinking about, to amend it to cover offences not known
to English law would not be easy.
3.
Sir Alastair also recommended, and the Governor set up,
a new Independent Commission Against Corruption, with a very
experienced retired Hong Kong public servant as Director. The
Commission started work in February. One or two senior officers
from a United Kingdom Police Force are also likely to be seconded
to the Commission. An Adviser from the Metropolitan Police,
Commander Anning, together with a Chief Superintendent, is at present
in Hong Kong to assess the situation. There have already been
suggestions in Hong Kong and in Britain that the Commission will
fail to do its job and that direct intervention from the UK is
required. But it is much too early to make any judgement about
the Commission's effectiveness. Meanwhile the Governor needs our
support for the way he is tackling the problem of corruption.
Albert is likely to support this view.
Sir
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