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of a senior expatariate police officer. This led to the establishment of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in February 1974. The Commission, which is answerable direct to the Governor, investigates complaints of corruption, gives advice on how to prevent it, and enlists community support for the drive against corruption. By the middle of 1977, the ICAC had succeeded in breaking up the major corruption syndicates in Hong Kong Police Force. The consequent pressure and danger of large-scale disaffection led to a limited amnesty and, as was hoped, this de-fused the situation. Subsequently, a Home Office team led by an Inspector of Constabulary, was invited by the Governor to examine the problems in the RHKPF over management and morale. their recommendations have now been implemented. In were in all 403 people prosecuted for corruption and related offences.
A number of
1982 there
DEATH PENALTY
4.2 The death penalty still exists in Hong Kong law and public opinion there is strongly in favour of its being applied. However, although convictions on capital charges occur regularly, no death sentence has been carried out since 1966. This situation causes some resentment in Hong Kong on the grounds that local opinion has apparently been overruled by HMG. An announcement by the Governor in late 1975 that he would impose life sentences, save in exceptional circumstances, when commuting the death penalty, appears to have taken some of the sting out of this issue but it remains a sensitive one.
THE LAW ON HOMOSEXUALITY
4.3
Male homosexuality is illegal in Hong Kong. The Law Reform Commission of Hong Kong has been considering since June 1980 whether the law should be amended. Its report, published on 8 June, pointed out that the majority of countries in the region, including China, do not prohibit homosexual relations, and that there are a
very large number of male homosexuals in Hong Kong, including
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