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just before the action phase began the second thing had gone wrong, in that our own failure had allowed Superintendent Godber, under investigation for corruption, to escape from the Colony, and the consequent public and Press outcry, which played up police incompetence and corruption, undermined our carefully prepared attempt to re-establish the image and confidence of the police. Publication of the two Reports of the Commission of Enquiry into Godber's escape and corruption though right and unavoidable inevitably fed this line.
20. Against the background of the deeply felt public need, the atmosphere built up by the campaign, and its effect on the behaviour of the public and police, were striking. But perhaps I was optimistic ever to hope for quick and lasting results in dealing with so intractable a worldwide problem, and certainly these two coincidental mischances broke the spell. For whatever reason the dramatic success we had aimed at has so far escaped us. Nevertheless much was achieved. Public confidence was considerably restored, relations between police and public were significantly improved, virtually all crime is now reported, and in many useful ways the public now assist the police where formerly they turned aside.
21. But though the rising rate of crime temporarily flattened out, it has started to rise again, and my impression is that this comparative success is beginning to run through our fingers. Certainly reduction in crime and the imperfect state of the police remain amongst my major concerns. The police are still a fine force, but are having difficulty in adapting to new circumstances. I believe the basic trouble has been that in the after-glow of its 1967 success, the force has continued to be greatly influenced by its para-military role in emergencies of different sorts. In this it has been and is superbly successful, but this asset must not be lost. But the sort of relationship with the public which preoccupation with this role encourages and indeed the calibre and mental qualifications of the constabulary are not so suited to the current need which is to gain the public's confidence and protect them from crime. I have no doubt that to some extent the force's relations with the public are eroded by corruption, and even more by the widespread (and traditional Chinese) belief that contact with the police does not pay.
22. The answer lies in weeding out corruption, educating the public, and achieving a higher calibre of constable. The latter is crucial. To this end, as from November, we greatly increased the pay of the lower levels of the police in relation to the rest of the public service. But we have also, in more positive vein, opened a special residential school to remove would-be recruits from the normal environ- ment of the street and resettlement block, for two years before they enter the force. The school will have an annual output of 600 by 1975/76 (i.e. over half the annual intake of the force).
Corruption
23. After the stock exchange, the second most newsworthy event of the year was Superintendent Godber's escape, and the public outcry about corruption it provoked. Anyone with an axe to grind or a score to pay leapt on this band- wagon. But exaggeration and malice apart, there were good grounds for the outcry, as corruption in the public services in Hong Kong is too widespread to be acceptable to a British Administration.
24. The outcry and the implications for the credibility of the Government for a time were really disturbing. However fortunately the public and Press were assured by the evidently determined way we reacted; the immediate appointment of a Commission of Enquiry: the publication in full of the Commission's reports: the establishment of an independent civilian Commissioner for Anti-Corruption
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