TNAG-0553-FCO40-648-Allegations-of-corruption-and-bribery-in-Hong-Kong-police-an-1975 — Page 17

CONFIDENTIAL

RECORD CF A MEETING BETWEEN LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS AND THE GOVERNOR

OF HONG KONG HELD IN THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ON

TUESDAY 2 DECEMBER AT 10.45 am

Those Present:

Lord Goronwy-Roberts

Sir Duncan Watson

Mr Larmour

Mr Male

Mr O'Keeffe

Mr Galsworthy

Mr Hurst, Deputy Labour Adviser

Mr Milton

Mr Janvrin

CORRUPTION

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Sir Murray MacLehose

Mr Kidd, Hong Kong Government

Office

This Copy for: HK 14),

Infor...rica onlyfaction en

Pera(s)

12. Lord Goronwy-Roberts asked the Governor how the Independent

The Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) was doing in Hong Kong. Governor said that it had built up its ability to detect corruption very satisfactorily, and was now not only responding to complaints

He paid but taking the initiative in investigating corruption.

tribute to Mr Prendergast, Deputy Commissioner of the ICAC, whom he considered to have constructed a very efficient machine which was . successful in bringing to trial individuals involved in corruption and had established itself with the public in Hong Kong. There was criticism of the ICAC but that was to be expected and was to an extent a sign of its success. There was concern about both the wide powers given to the Commission and its effects on the morale of the police. In his opinion, he thought that police morale was

it was now higher than before despite the anti-corruption drive: much more dependent on the success of their fight against crime. In answer to a question the Governor added that the police were not quite up to strength, but there were major changes proposed including doubling the strength of the CID, recruiting to the limit.of their training capacity and reviewing comprehensively the whole manning and establishment structure of the force.

Hong Kong and Indian Ocean Department

22 December 1975

CONVIDENTIAL

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