TNAG-0549-FCO40-644-Allegations-of-corruption-and-bribery-in-Hong-Kong-police-an-1975 — Page 88

CONFIDENTIAL

4.

SUPPLEMENTARY C. WE PREFER THE FOLLOWING:-

''THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION HAS RECEIVED A LARGE MEASURE

OF SUPPORT FROM THE HONG KONG PUBLIC. PRIORITY HAS BEEN GIVEN DURING THE FIRST YEAR TO THE SETTING UP OF THE OPERATIONS DIVISION, WHICH

IS NOW FULLY OPERATIONAL, WITH AN ESTABLISHMENT OF OVER 300. THIS WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED DURING THE COMING YEAR. 116 PROSECUTIONS HAVE BEEN INSTITUTED BY THE COMMISSION TO DATE. THE CORRUPTION PREVENTION DEPARTMENT OF THE COMMISSION AND THE

COMMUNITY RELATIONS DEPARTMENT HAVE ALSO NOW STARTED WORK.''.

5. SUPPLEMENTARY D. WE SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING: -

AN OFFICER OF THE INDEPENDENT

COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION, WAS CONVICTED IN DECEMBER OF ACCEPTING A PRIVATE LOAN OF 20,000 HONG KONG DOLLARS WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE GOVERNOR. HE WAS FINED 10,000 HONG KONG DOLLARS

AND HIS SERVICE WITH THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN TERMINATED. ALTHOUGH

THE ACCEPTANCE OF A LOAN OF THIS KIND WITHOUT PERMISSION IS

AN OFFENCE UNDER THE HONG KONG PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE,

NO CORRUPT INTENT WAS INVOLVED.

6.

SUPPLEMENTARY E. GREAT CARE IS CALLED FOR IN DEALING WITH

ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE UNDERTAKING TO

MY ATTORNEY GENERAL

HAS DECLINED TO COMMENT AT ALL AT THIS STAGE. THE WAY IN WHICH

HUNT CAME TO MAKE A STATEMENT TO THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST

CORRUPTION IN THE FIRST PLACE AND THE WAY IN WHICH THE UNDERTAKING

WAS SUBSEQUENTLY GIVEN WILL BE DEALT WITH AS PART OF THE CROWN

CASE WHEN HUNT GIVES EVIDENCE ON GODBER'S TRIAL. THERE IS REALLY

NO ANSWER WHICH CAN BE GIVEN AT THE MOMENT WITHOUT AT THE VERY

LEAST THE RISK OF A MISLEADING IMPRESSION OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

WE SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING:-

"' THIS IS A MATTER WHICH MAY ARISE DURING THE

TRIAL OF MR.GODBER. I CANNOT COMMENT FURTHER AT THIS STAGE WHEN THE

MAIN CONSIDERATION MUST BE THE BRINGING OF THE PROCEEDINGS AGAINST

MR. GODBER TO A PROPER CONCLUSION.''.

7.

SUPPLEMENTARY F. WE SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING:-

''IT IS REALISED HOW MUCH INTEREST THESE ARTICLES HAVE

AROUSED BOTH HERE AND ABROAD AND IT IS NATURAL THAT COMMENTS

SHOULD BE SOUGHT, BUT HUNT WILL BE A CROWN WITNESS IN AN IMPORTANT. TRIAL. IT WOULD THEREFORE BE IMPROPER TO COMMENT ON THE ARTICLES.

2.

CONFIDENTIAL

18.