TNAG-0678-FCO40-827-Allegations-of-corruption-and-bribery-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 114

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28 MAR No77

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1300 PROHONGAID LONDON ONE :

GIS 54/77

LIS 65 REFERRED.

COMMISSIONER. EXPIS

FOLLOWING IS FULL TEXT OF JACK CATER'S SPEECH TO ROTARY CLUB OF H.K. ON FEBRUARY 15:

IT IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SPEAK TO THE ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG, AND I AM ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR INVITING ME TO THIS PARTICULAR LUNCH BECAUSE TODAY IS THE 3RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE SETTING-UP OF THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION.

SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT JUST A YEAR AGO, I STOOD BEFORE YOU HERE AT ROTARY AND TOLD YOU THAT THE ICAC WAS ABOUT TO ENTER A CRUCIAL PERIOD: THAT WE AIMED TO BREAK THE BOZOF ORGANISED, SYNDICATED CORRUPTION IN THE ENSUING YEAR OR TWO. I WENT ON TO SAY THAT 1976 AND 1977 WERE GOING TO BE CRUNCH YEARS FOR THE COMMISSION, AND FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE IN HONG KONG.

NOW, ARE WE ON TARGET? ARE WE STICKING TO SCHEDULE? I BELIEVE WE ARE. I BELIEVE THAT 1977, THE YEAR OF THE SNAKE, WILL BE THE YEAR THAT COUNTS.

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1305: PROHONGAID LONDON TWO :-

GIS 54/77 (ADD)

I HAVE DECIDED THAT TODAY, I SHOULD SPEAK TO YOU IN PARTICULAR ABOUT SYNDICATED CORRUPTION: PARTLY BECAUSE IT IS MY STATUTORY DUTY TO DO SO, AND I QUOTE TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AGAINST THE EVILS OF CORRUPTION+ AND I ASSURE YOU SYNDICATED CORRUPTION IS

ESPECIALLY EVIL: BUT MAINLY BECAUSE, AS YOU KNOW, SYNDICATED CORRUPTION IS PRESENTLY THE MAIN TARGET OF THE COMMISSION AND I THINK IT IMPORTANT THAT YOU, AND THE PUBLIC GENERALLY, SHOULD KNOW WHY THIS IS SO.

AT THE HEIGHT OF CORRUPTION ACTIVITIES IN HONG KONG, THE MONEY TAKEN BY SYNDICATED CORRUPTION

THAT IS SYNDICATES OF CORRUPT GOVERNMENT SERVANTS (AND PARTICULARLY OF CORRUPT POLICEMEN) AMOUNTED TO MANY HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EACH YEAR. I CONSERVATIVELY ESTIMATE THAT SYNDICATED CORRUPTION HAS BEEN BRINGING IN TO THE CORRUPT, A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR. ONE THOUSAND MILLION DOLLARS. THAT IS, THREE OR FOUR TIMES THE ANNUAL PROFITS FROM THE WORLD-WIDE OPERATIONS OF THE HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION.

AND WHO PAYS THIS MONEY? THE COMMUNITY PAYS. WE PAY... IF NOT ACTUALLY IN DOLLARS AND CENTS, THEN SURELY AND SADLY AND SHAMEFULLY IN TERMS OF DEGRADATION. THE LEVEL OF CORRUPTION IN A SITUATION SUCH AS OURS IN HONG KONG DEGRADES US ALL.

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