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of the two cases the Attorney-General had, on reflection, decided to proceed, only to have the case dismissed by the Court for lack of evidence. Lord Goronwy-Roberts asked Mrs Elliott whether she supported the re-introduction of the Death Penalty. Mrs Elliott said that she saw no point in this since it was corruption in the Folice Force which was entirely responsible for the rise in crime. Lord Goronwy-Roberts asked her if, given the best police force in the world, she would then support the reintroduction of the Death Penalty.
Mrs Elliott said that if the police force was not corrupt there would be no murders requiring the use of the Death Penalty. Lord Goronwy-Roberts said that he found this a very dubious assumption.
10. Mr Chan said that there was, indeed, some feeling in the Chinese population that the ICAC was being unreasonably inquisitive. In a recent case the magistrate had justifiably complained about an ICAC demand that the accused should produce vouchers for household expenditure for the preceding two years. Mr MacKenzie agreed: no-one doubted the dedicated leadership of the ICAC under Mr Cater who was widely respected in the Colony and there was widespread recognition that the Commission must be given a chance to succeed. There was, however, some concern over its methods and complaints over premature publicity in individual cases, guilt by association and over-rigorous methods.
He
11. Lord Goronwy-Roberts thanked the delegation for their interesting comments on the present situation in Hong Kong. said that he took a deep personal interest in the welfare of the Colony and was glad of an opportunity to discuss matters of concern with a group of dedicated and public-minded citizens.
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Department 30 April 1975
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