TNAG-0550-FCO40-645-Allegations-of-corruption-and-bribery-in-Hong-Kong-police-an-1975 — Page 139

CR 350

IMMEDIATE

CYPHER/CAT A

REGISTRY No.52 112 FEB1975

RECEIVED IN

LOP COPY

Leb

FM HONG KONG 120305Z

REF.

(93)

52

CONFIDENTIAL

TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 146 OF 12 FEBRUARY.

YOUR TELNO. 103: PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION:

CORRUPTION.

1. WE PROPOSE A DIRECT ANSWER FIRST TO THE QUESTION OF A COMMISSION

APPOINTED BY HMG AND SUGGEST THAT THE REPLY SHOULD THEN PROCEED IN A WAY WHICH EMBRACES THE PROPOSED REPLY TO YOUR CONTEMPLATED SUPPLEMENTARY (A). WE RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING ANSWER TO THE QUESTION:

''NO. THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION SET UP BY

THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN IN OPERATION FOR JUST OVER A YEAR NOW, AND

HAS ALREADY ACHIEVED DISTINCT SUCCESS. IT HAS RECEIVED A LARGE MMEASURE OF SUPPORT FROM THE HONG KONG PUBLIC AND MUST BE GIVEN

A PROPER OPPORTUNITY TO FULFIL ITS TASK. THE COMMISSION HAS OUR

STRONG SUPPORT AND DURING HIS RECENT VISIT TO HONG KONG THE

MINISTER SAW FOR HIMSELF THE COMMISSION'S DETERMINATION TO PURSUE

ITS WORK."

2. NATURALLY, THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION TREATS ALL INFORMATION

WHICH IT RECEIVES FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN THE STRICTEST

CONFIDENCE, BUT THE STATEMENT IN YOUR DRAFT REPLY THAT THE

COMMISSION WELCOMES EVIDENCE SUBMITTED IN CAMERA IS NOT APPROPRIATE.

3. SUPPLEMENTARY (B). BLAIR-KERR DID NOT RECOMMEND THE ESTABLISH-

MENT OF A SEPARATE ORGANISATION TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS OF

CORRUPTION, WE SUGGEST THAT ''ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF BE REPLACED

BY FOLLOWING THE JUDICIAL ENQUIRY CONDUCTED BY''.

:

4. SUPPLEMENTARY (D). WE AGREE THAT THE REPLY SHOULD BE AS IN

PARAGRAPH 4 OF OUR TELNO. 58 AND WILL SEND THE FIGURES FOR WHICH

YOU ASK ON FRIDAY.

}

/5. SUPPLEMENTARY (F).

CONFIDENTIAL