TNAG-0547-FCO40-642-Diplomatic-reports-from-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Ho-1975 — Page 22

CONF DENTIAL

4.

c) The Independent Commission Against Corruption

under devoted and able leadership has got off to a

good start and secured the confidence of the public.

Considering that it has had to start from scratch it

has had infinitely more success in its first year than

I would have imagined possible. The first signs

of fear among the corrupt are detectable and in the

light of the Commission's performance few here now

doubt that we mean to see this job through.

d) Participation in various minor acts of administra-

tion through mass movements and in particular the new

Mutual Aid Committees now covering about one-quarter

of Hong Kong's population, has proved popular, fills

an obvious need, and has become an accepted part

of the local scene. With careful nursing and direction

the sense of participation and of being in contact with

the government that this movement could provide, should

fill some of the gap left by the absence of either

elected government or a sense of national identity.

It will also identify leaders from the low income

groups who could in time qualify for appointment to

the principal advisory committees and eventually the

Legislative Council.

e) Hopefully we are approaching a new and much more

CONFIDENTIAL

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