§ 16. Mr. Goodhewasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give statistics to illustrate the impact of the operations department of the Independent Commission against Corruption in Hong Kong.
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§ Mr. EnnalsOver 7,000 reports were made during the 12 months ended June 1975; 3,408 concerned corruption, an increase of 133 per cent. over the 12-month period preceding the establishment of the ICAC. 191 arrests were made during the same period, resulting in 121 convictions.
§ 17. Mr. Hal Millerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of staff grade C posts and above in the Hong Kong Government Service is held by local recruits; and whether he will make a statement on the recruitment of expatriate civil servants.
§ Mr. EnnalsTwenty per cent. in the Administrative Service and 25 per cent. in the Government service as a whole. For the administrative class as a whole the percentage is 45 per cent. Recruitment policy is based on the appointment, where possible, of suitably qualified local candidates. Recruitment of expatriates is undertaken only when such local candidates are not available in sufficient numbers, and in certain categories, to maintain the special relationship with Britain.
§ Mr. Goodhewasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will encourage the Government of Hong Kong to consider legalising the less harmful types of gambling in order to contribute towards the removal of corruption.
§ Mr. EnnalsCorruption opportunities are only one factor to be considered. Before changes are made in Hong Kong's gambling legislation account must also be taken of local social attitudes. Off-course betting was legalised in 1973; and a Bill to widen the scope of lottery operations is under consideration.
§ Mr. Goodhewasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to secure the co-operation of the public in the work of the Independent Commission against Corruption in Hong Kong; and with what result.
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§ Mr. EnnalsThe commission has established a community relations department to win public support against corruption. Publicity and educational programmes are promoted through the mass-media and personal contacts. Eight liaison offices are planned, three of which will be opened soon. There has been an encouraging degree of public cooperation.
§ Sir P. Bryanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Hong Kong Government have taken to set up comprehensive training schemes to provide skilled workers for the clothing and construction industries.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe Legislative Council has now passed the Industrial Training (Construction Industry) and (Clothing Industry) Bills. These provide for comprehensive training schemes financed by levies from the respective industries. The Government are to make capital loans available for the purpose and the training centres will be in operation by early 1977.
§ Mr. James Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Hong Kong police officers, each by ranks, inspector, NCO and constable, have been dealt with under Regulation 31A of the Police Force Ordinance variously for (a) maintaining a standard of living not commensurate with their official emoluments and (b) controlling unexplained pecuniary resources in excess of their official emoluments, for each of the years after and including 1961 when this regulation was introduced.
§ Mr. EnnalsThere is no record of any police officer having been dealt with under Section 36(1) of the Police Force Ordinance to which I assume my hon. Friend is referring.
§ Mr. James Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many expatriate probationary Hong Kong police inspectors have resigned from the police force (a) within three months of taking up their appointment, (b) within three to six months, (c) within six months to one year, (d) within one year to two years, (e) within two years up to and at or soon after the end of their first tour of duty in each of the years since 1960.
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§ Mr. EnnalsThe following is the information:
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E) 1960 — — — — — 1961 — — — 1 1 1962 — — — — — 1963 — 1 — — — 1964 — — — 1 — 1965 — — — 1 2 1966 — — — — — 1967 1 1 1 — — 1968 — — — 1 1 1969 1 1 3 — — 1970 1 1 3 — 1 1971 7 8 3 3 2 1972 1 — 2 1 1 1973 6 1 2 3 — 1974 1 7 4 4 — 1975 1 2 3 6 1
§ Mr. James Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many expatriate and locally-recruited gazetted officers, inspectors, NCOs and constables of the Hong Kong police have been compulsorily retired or required to resign in accordance with colonial regulations or other regulations in connection with corruption offences, in each of the years since 1960.
§ Mr. EnnalsNone.
§ Mr. James Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many expatriate Hong Kong police inspectors have been recruited on probation; and how many have left during or at the end of their first tour of duty, for each of the years since 1960.
§ Mr. EnnalsFollowing is the information:
Date Recruited Left 1965 49 5 1966 61 6 1967 31 7 1968 48 11 1969 64 20 1970 44 19 1971 41 25 1972 34 8 1973 81 30 1974 128 28 1975 78 2
§ Mr. James Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why gazetted officers were not included in the definition given in Regulation 31A of the Hong Kong Police Force Ordinance.
§ Mr. EnnalsGazetted officers were, and still are, bound by colonial regulations 197W and establishment regulations. Section 10 (1) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (Cap 201) is now relevant.
§ Mr. Wallasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has had any assurances from the Government of China that those attempting to seek political refuge in Hong Kong and are then forcedly repatriated, will not be proceeded against by that Government.
§ Mr. EnnalsI have no reason to believe that illegal immigrants refused permission to enter Hong Kong receive unduly harsh punishment from the Chinese authorities.
§ 26. Mr. James Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied with the results achieved to date by the Independent Commission against Corruption in Hong Kong.
§ Mr. EnnalsYes, Sir.