TNAG-0550-FCO40-645-Allegations-of-corruption-and-bribery-in-Hong-Kong-police-an-1975 — Page 142

IMMEDIATE

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CONFID

CONFIDENTIAL

(HKK 14/1)

DESK BY 110108Z

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TEL NO 103 OF 18 FEBRUARY 1975

FROM HKIOD

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION: CORRUPTION

1. MR KENNETH WARREN MP HAS PUT DOWN A QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER ON 19 FEBRUARY, TO ASK THE SECRETARY OF STATE IF HE WILL APPOINT A COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE THE ALLEGATIONS MADE RECENTLY CONCERNING CORRUPTION IN THE HONG KONG POLICE TO WHICH INDIVID~ UALS COULD GIVE EVIDENCE IN CAMERA IF THEY SO WISHED.

2. WE PROPOSE TO RECOMMEND THE ANSWER: QUOTE THE HONG KONG

INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION HAS ALREADY BEEN CREATED

AS A RESULT OF A JUDICIAL INQUIRY SET UP BY THE GOVERNOR WITH THE

AGREEMENT OF HMG. THE COMMISSION WELCOMES EVIDENCE SUBMITTED IN

CAMERA. UNQUOTE

3. THE QUESTION WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY BE REACHED, AND WE PROPOSE TO RECOMMEND ANSWERS TO SUPPLEMENTARIES ON THE FOLLOWING LINES:

(A) IS A HONG KONG COMMISSION ENOUGH? SHOULD NOT AN ENQUIRY FROM THE

UK BE SET UP DIRECTLY BY HM? THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION HAS ONLY

BEEN IN OPERATION FOR A YEAR. IT HAS ALREADY ACHIEVED DISTINCT

SUCCESS AND MUST BE GIVEN A PROPER OPPORTUNITY TO FULFIL ITS TASK.

B) ICAC'S ORIGIN.

THE GOVERNOR SET UP THE ICAC ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF SIR ALASTAIR BLAIR KERR, A JUDGE OF THE HIGH COURT, WHOM HE HAD APPOINTED, IN 1973, TO INVESTIGATE THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEPARTURE FROM HONG KONG OF CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT GODBER AND TO PROPOSE FURTHER

MEASURES AGAINST CORRUPTION.

(C) ICAC'S FUNCTIONS.

THE FUNCTIONS OF THE ICAC ARE TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS OF

CORRUPTION, TO TAKE STEPS FOR THE PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION AND TO ENLIST COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR ITS ELIMINATION. /(D) WHAT THE ICAC

CONFIDENTIAL