TNAG-0678-FCO40-827-Allegations-of-corruption-and-bribery-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 75

CONFIDENTIAL

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Mr Cortazzi

Parliamentary Unit

HONG KONG: PQS ON CORRUPTION:

MR JAMES JOHNSON MP

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1. Mr James Johnson MP (Labour Kingston-upon-Hull West) has put down two Written Questions on corruption for 30 March on points arising from the speech that Mr Jack Cater, the Head of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, gave to the Hong Kong Rotary Club last month. Mr Johnson has already tabled an Oral Question for answer on 30 March concerning Mr Cater's speech.

(My submission of 28 March refers.) The first. of Mr Johnson's

Written Questions needs to be considered in conjunction with the draft reply to his Oral Question.

2. Mr Johnson's first. Written Question seems to assume that Mr Cater was giving a current estimate of the extent of syndicated corruption in Hong Kong. As I pointed out in paragraph 3 of my submission of 28 March, I do not think that Mr Cater's remarks can be read in this way. His estimate related to the extent of corruption prior to the establishment of the Independent Commission Against Corruption. Nevertheless, I believe that Mr Johnson is correct in saying that the Hong Kong Government's attitude towards corruption has changed over the years. Corruption was evidently played down before Mr Justice Blair-Kerr's Commission of Enquiry in 1973, whereas the Governor has told us several times over the past two or three years that the fight against corruption is one of his Government's top priorities.

3. I submit draft replies along the lines suggested by the Hong

I have, Kong Government. (Hong Kong telegram no. 327 of 29 March.) however, modified the draft reply suggested by Hong Kong to Mr Johnson's first Question to include a statement, for which Mr Johnson has asked, about the Hong Kong Government's position on corruption and to tie it in with the draft reply to his Oral Question.

29 March 1977 copies:

PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts

D.F. Milton

DF Milton

Hong Kong Department

OPA

CONFIDENTIAL

Mar Clyd. 29/047

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