TNAG-0552-FCO40-647-Allegations-of-corruption-and-bribery-in-Hong-Kong-police-an-1975 — Page 185

the second day of the trial, solicitor Yeung tried to open a dialogue with the Petitioner within the precincts of the court but his approach was ignored. The Petitioner reported the incident to the Crown Counsel and Senior Police Superintendent J.P.MacMahon. As far as the above case is concerned, there are indications that a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice has succeeded, and that a substantial sum of money or advantage has changed hands, probably in a place other than Hong Kong, resulting in the convictions against the swindlers having been set aside in the interest of swindling syndicates. 33. The above case is so strong that it took the conspirators in the judicature and the legal

profession in Hong Kong 46 days to find a common pretext for upsetting it. 34.Corruption in the judicature in Hong Kong is not something new and may be exemplified

by the following well-known facts, thus-

a.a few years ago, a Chinese solicitor was convicted of perverting the course of justice

by giving a bribe of HK$20,000.00 to a witness in the Happy Valley Horse Doping Case. Following an appeal, he got his conviction quashed on the argument that "he, in giving the witness the money, did not intend to influence him in his evidence and the payment was made only in compensation for his losses". Heaven knows that, in fact, his successful appeal resulted from a sum of HK$7,000,000.00 (seven million dollars) having changed hands; a lot of people in the Chinese community already knew what the "verdict" would be even before it was handed down.

b. over the years, land development companies applying for exemption orders under Sec.

31 of the Landlord & Tenant Ordinance could have early dates of hearing fixed for their applications if they made a "deal" with certain persons connected with the Tenancy Tribunal Office. This is known to nearly all land developers in Hong Kong.

c. in the fifties, a Chinese magistrate who dealt with gold smuggling offences made a huge fortune from smuggling syndicates which were very active during these years. 35.The Hong Kong Government should shoulder responsibilities for the consequences arising

from corruption, malpractices as well as unjust decisions on the part of its servants, including police officers, judges and what not.

36.The Hong Kong Government is under legal and moral obligation to do the Petitioner justice

and to protect his property.

The Petitioner prays that His Excellency The Governor and Honourable Members of the Coun- cils of Hong Kong will, in the interest of public justice, intervene in the above case by-

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a.ordering an inquiry into the circumstances under which the convictions against the

swindlers were set aside after forty-six(46) days of deliberation;

b.taking steps to ensure that justice will not be perverted by monetary considerations; c.considering appropriate legal remedies and compensation for losses suffered by and

grievances on the part of the Petitioner as a result of the swindlers' appeal being allow- ed irrespective of the strong evidence of guilt against them; and

d. removing crooked judicial officers from the bench.

The Petitioner respectfully expresses to His Excellency The Governor and Honourable Members of the Councils of Hong Kong his compliments and thanks for their consideration of this Petition and any actions to be taken thereon with fairness and impartility

Dated the 20th September 1975.

Petitioner's Signature

Name & Address

Pun Ting Chau

Flat 1022 Bell House, Blk.A 525-543 Nathan Rd. Kowloon, Hong Kong

Remarks: (a) ICAC means the Independent Commission Against Corruption, Hong Kong.

means the pe trafional Chinese praud, whereby or more

swindlers conspire to cheat a victim of his money or property by availing them- selves of human weaknesses or good qualities on the part of the victim. Such swindles are very prevalent in Hong Kong and have developed into a "profession" ; they can influence judicial officers, policemen, lawyers, press reporters etc. in doing things to their advantage.

(c) Contents of this Petition coincide with court records, records of various law enforcement agencies as well as facts of life in Hong Kong; the same will stand tests by any independent investigators.

(d) Where the postal address of the Petitioner has been inserted in lieu of his

private address or the names of certain judicial officers have been intentionally misspelt, the reasons are that he should avoid personal contact with undesirable callers at his home and to counteract possible retaliation from those named.

20-9-1975/1-6000