TNAG-0678-FCO40-827-Allegations-of-corruption-and-bribery-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 140

Mr Macoun (K 322)

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Sir R Sykes

Mr Murray

Mr Stewart-

CONFIDENTIAL

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HONG KONG POLICE

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1. I have read with interest your report on the Royal Hong Kong Police. I shall be interested to see what comments you receive from Hong Kong.

2. I am concerned about what you have to say on the subject of police morale and in particular the impact of the methods of ICAC. It is obviously very difficult to get the balance right. Mr Cater clearly thinks that corruption is so deep-seated and endemic that only draconian methods can eradicate it and that even these may not be totally effective. He would, I think, also consider that a major attack on "the viper of corruption" is of the highest importance for the standing of Hong Kong in the world and for a just and fair administration of Hong Kong. It is natural that these methods should be resented by the police among whom corruption has been deep-seated and some of the comments you heard could perhaps have been designed to get the 'heat' on the police reduced.

3. Nevertheless I can see that there is another side to all this and the time may have come when ICAC's methods as opposed to its objectives should be carefully scrutinised to see how far these should be modified to take account of their effects on police morale and perhaps more importantly their instrinsic fairness in terms of traditional British standards of Justice. I should welcome Mr Stewart's comments on this aspect.

The

HAH Cortazzi

24 January 1977

сти ник 882/6

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