TNAG-0990-FCO40-1209-Allegations-of-bribery-and-corruption-in-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 184

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that officers on agreement should not be given the reasons when the Government terminates the agreement by giving the appropriate notice. He also recommended that CR 59 which covers retirement in the public interest and requires that the officer be given the grounds should be revoked and that the more simple procedures of section 8(2) of the Pensions Ordinance should be used instead. This section does not require the officer to be given grounds or any opportunity to state his side of the case.

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When it received the Blair-Kerr Report, the FCO telegraphed "We start from the position that you want to get rid of someone quietly and quickly if the evidence of corruption against him is insufficient to prosecute, or cannot be used for security reasons, or if he is acquitted because the quantum of proof is not sufficient to sustain a criminal charge". This is exactly what was wanted but, despite London's desire to help, the recommendations vere gradually whittled down as the result of misgivings both in Hong Kong and in London. There was little left of the original proposals when the staff side was eventually consulted and, as the result of the reservations made in the Senior Civil Service Council, it was finally proposed to the FCO that only very minor amendments to CRs should be made and that none should be revoked. It was

also noted that "With regard to the termination of the services of officers on contract or probation, we have agreed with the staff associations that an officer will be given the reasons unless it is in the public interest not to do so, either because the justification is a strong suspicion of corruption or for security reasons". It was recognised in the same telegram that the public would regard the final recommendations as weak when compared with those proposed by Blair-Kerr, went on to say "There is a danger that we shall be criticised for not being sufficiently ruthless but a balance has to be kept and we must ensure that loyal and honest officers are not affronted and that the possibilities of victimisation are reduced."

It

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