TNAG-0678-FCO40-827-Allegations-of-corruption-and-bribery-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 143

Mr, Male

y-Roberts

PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts

HONG KONG: MP'S LETTER:

Too) Pre 1.

118

CONFIDENTIAL

Uu. Frework feeds du. Dulty.

Draft Brisme.

Дарь

MR GEORGE GARDINER MP

Monday

Mr Male Dim Mr Milton

to note Ward G-R'S

comments.

jjones13

Mr Gardiner MP (Conservative Reigate and Banstead) wrote FLAG A to Mr Rowlands on '2 November last enclosing a further letter

from his constituent, Mrs Pryor. Lord Goronwy-Roberts sent an interim reply on 17 November while the department made enquiries (108)

of the Attorney-General in Hong Kong about the points raised by FLAG D Mrs Pryor. The Attorney-General has now replied.

FLAG

FLAG

129

FLAG E

35

FLAG

2. Mrs Pryor, who has been concerned for some time about the activities of the ICAC, first wrote to her MP in February 1976 following the arrest of a neighbour of hers. Mr Gardiner wrote to Lord Goronwy-Roberts, and Mr Rowlands, in the absence of Lord Goronwy-Roberts, replied on 26 May. Subsequently, Mrs Pryor's neighbour, Mr Brown, was found innocent of the charges brought against him. This appears to have increased Mrs Pryor's determi- nation to seek to obtain better safeguards for the individual against the possible abuse of the ICAC's powers. She writes frequently to the Hong Kong press and, according to her latest letter, has appeared on a television programme about the work of the ICAC. Mrs Pryor has also discussed the ICAC's role with

5

Mr Cater, the Commissioner. In general, my impression is that Mrs Pryor is a responsible critic of the ICAC.

3. Two of the points that Mrs Pryor has raised in her latest letter, namely the low financial limit for eligibility for legal aid and the recovery of legal costs are, according to the Attorney-General's letter, now being dealt with by the Hong Kong Government. These steps are unlikely to satisfy her main concern that the individual needs better protection, and Mr Gardiner has suggested, on the basis of Mrs Pryor's letter, that there would appear to be a strong case for an independent appeal body along the lines of an Ombudsman. It emerges from the enclosures to

/Mrs Pryor's

CONFIDENTIAL