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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. A number of
their recommendations have now been implemented. In 1982
403 people were prosecuted for corruption and related offences.
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,
to have taken some of the sting out of this issue but it remains a
sensitive one.
appears
THE LAW ON HOMOSEXUALITY
4.3 Male homosexuality is illegal in Hong Kong. The Law Reform Commission of Hong Kong set up a sub-committee in June 1980
to consider whether the law should be amended. Its report, published on 8 June 1983, pointed out that the majority of countries
in the region, including China, do not prohibit homosexual
relations, and that there are a large number of male homosexuals in
Hong Kong,
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