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was now being taken seriously.
Sir Murray envisaged two very
uncomfortable years before the back of the problem could be broken. The police would have to live through a further period of feeling singled out for particular enquiry until the Commission could spread its enquiries into other areas. He himself was satisfied with the Commission's work and recruitment was continuing. He thought that although it was difficult to be sure, there were grounds for hoping that corruption in some areas was already less prevalent.
12.
Lord Goronwy-Roberts said that Ministers had continued to maintain in Parliament that ICAC was doing a good job and that there was no need for an externally appointed Royal Commission. ICAC ceased to command credibility would appointment of an external Commission have to be considered.
13.
Only if
Asked about the confidentiality of ICAC's investigations,
Sir Murray MacLehose said that the Commission never made any announcement about its activities in particular cases under review. He added that it was naturally not possible to give a clean bill of health in every case where ICAC decided not to prosecute.
V DEFENCE COSTS
14.
Sir Murray MacLehose said he had a strong preference for a force level of about 5 major units. However, reduction to about
4 units might be acceptable as a minimum level subject to capability of reinforcement within a few weeks. Lord Goronwy-Roberts said that, subject to the views of the Chiefs of Staff, he would accept the Governor's judgment on this.
15.
Substantive negotiations on the question of burden-sharing were not expected to begin before the end of May. Sir Murray MacLehose suggested that in the meantime officials should prepare a draft agreement covering such matters as time scale, currency and local costs.
He would raise these points at his meeting with Mr Rodgers; Lord Goronwy-Roberts agreed that MOD was the proper Department for considering these matters.
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