TNAG-0678-FCO40-827-Allegations-of-corruption-and-bribery-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 122

NNNN

ZC LTX795 160719 DXC774

TWX

YCX666 16-0710 YHN857

1425: PROHONGAID LONDON SEVENTEEN:

GIS 54/77 (ADD)

I MUST PAY TRIBUTE TO THE STEADFAST SUPPORT WE ARE RECEIVING FROM THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE HIMSELF, BRIAN SLEVIN, AND HIS SENIOR OFFICERS. MR SLEVIN NOT ONLY AS COMMISSIONER, BUT ALSO AS AN IMPORTANT MEMBER OF THE OPERATIONS TARGET COMMITTEE. THESE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS THE POLICE HAE DONE REMARKABLY WELL IN TACKLING NARCOTICS. MORE RECENTLY, DETERMINED EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO CLEAR UP SUCH BLACK SPOTS AS WANCHAT AND MONGKOK. WITH THE RECENT ENACTMENT OF THE NEW GAMBLING ORDINANCE, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE POLICE HAVE GAINED AN IMPORTANT WEAPON-A WEAPON . THEY HAVE LONG WANTED---TO ASSIST THEM IN TACKLING ILLEGAL GAMBLING.

THEY KNOW A GREAT DEAL ABOUT THESE ACTIVITIES AND WHO IS INVOLVED, BUT FOR TOO LONG THEIR HANDS HAVE BEEN TIED BY AN ANTIQUATED LAW. THIS HAS BEEN CHANGED, AND FROM NOW ON WE CAN EXPECT CONSIDERABLE PRESSURE TO BE APPLIED AGAINST ILLEGAL GAMBLING.

1

OF ALL THE TASKS BEFORE OUR GOVERNMENT, THE MAINTENANCE OF LAW AND ORDER IS PARAMOUNT: THE COMMUNITY MUST HAVE TRUST IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, FAITH THAT THE LAW WILL BE UPHELD, THAT ORDER WILL BE MAINTAINED. THE SAD TRUTH IS THAT A NUMBER--A LARGE NUMBER, ADMITTEDLY--HAVE BETRAYED OUT TRUST IN THEM, HAVE BROUGHT DISCREDIT ON THE FORCE, ON US ALL. THEY MUST BE EXPOSED, ROOTED OUT. SOCIETY MUST CONDEMN THEM, MUST DECLARE THEM UNACCEPTABLE. AND TO DO THIS, SOCIETY MUST KNOW WHAT HORRORS HAVE BEEN AND ARE BEING PERPETRATED AGAINST THE COMMUNITY BY THESE VERMIN IN THE SYNDICATES. MORE==

NNNNN

F

.ZCZC LTX796 160721 DXA650

YY TWX

YBX8 38 16-0714 YHN858

14 30: PROHONGAID LONDON EIGHTEEN :

GIS 54/77 (ADD)

WE MUST ALL BE INVOLVED IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION: THE PUBLIC GENERALLY THE PUBLIC SERVICE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIESTM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DECIDING WHETHER A PROSECUTION UNDER THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE SHOULD TAKE PLACE AND IF SO, AT WHAT LEVEL IT SHOULD BE BROUGHT AND, OF COURSE, MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY WHO SIT IN JUDGEMENT ON CASES AND WHO DECIDE ON THE PUNISHMENT TO BE AWARDED, IF ANY.

I AM OFTEN ASKED MY VIEW OF THE SENTENCES PASSED ON THOSE FOUND GUILTY OF CORRUPTION= ADEQUATE OR NOT ADEQUATE? WELL, IT IS DIFFICULT TO BE SPECIFIC, AND PERHAPS IT WOULD BE IMPROPER TO COMMENT ON INDIVIDUAL CASES. BUT WITHOUT BEING AT ALL SUBJECTIVE, LET ME GIVE YOU A FEW FACTS: IN BRITAIN RECENTLY, A MEMBER OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE FORCE (A DETECTIVE CHIEF INSPECTOR) GOT 10 YEARS FOR CONSPIRACY, AND 8 YEARS (TO RUN CONCURRENTLY) ON FOUR SPECIFIC BRIBERY OFFENCES INVOLVING 2, 300 POUND STERLINGS--OR RATHER LESS THAN HK 20,000. THE CONSPIRACY WAS TO DO WITH PORNOGRAPHY, AND I NOTE WITH INTEREST THAT BRITISH GOVERNMENT SOLICITORS WERE SAID TO BE HORRIFIED+ THAT A SINGLE DEAL INVOLVED A PAYMENT OF 1,000 POUND STERLINGS--OR HK$3,000. IN HONG KONG, SINCE THE ICAC CAME INTO BEING, THE MAXIMUM' SENTENCE FOR A POLICE CONSPIRACY OFFENCE HAS BEEN 5 YEARS AND FOR AN OFFENCE UNDER THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE, 6 YEARS. TO DATE, THE AVERAGE SENTENCE FOR POLICE CONSPIRACY OFFENCES IS 2 YEARS AND ↳ MONTHS AND FOR OFFENCES UNDER THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY OYUNANCE WHERE CUSTODIAL SENTENCES HAVE

I MAKE NO COMMENT. BEEN IMPOSED--12 MONTHS.

MORE==

}