§ Mr. Carterasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many former Government servants or public officials are being detained or are wanted in connection with corruption charges in Hong Kong; who they are; and how long each has been wanted.
§ Mr. Blaker18 former Government servants are serving prison sentences for corruption offences: four ex-prison officers; 11 ex-police; one ex-registration of persons department; one ex-housing department; one ex-judiciary clerk.
Four Governments servants are on trial for corruption offences: two police; one marine department officer; one prison officer.
15 former Government servants are wanted, having absconded or jumped bail: 12 ex-police; one ex-urban services department; two ex-housing department. Five of these have been sought since 1968, three since 1969, three since 1970, one since 1971, two since 1972 and one since 1973.
§ Mr. Carterasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many notified road accidents have occurred in Hong Kong in each of the past five years; how many of these accidents caused injuries; and what number of these cases produced prosecutions and convictions.
§ Mr. BlakerThe table below shows road accidents notified to the police during the calendar years 1969 to 1973. Slight accidents were those where no injury was caused. Serious accidents were those where an injury was caused. Figures for convictions for road traffic accidents are classified by the type of offence. They do not therefore show whether injuries were caused in individual cases. That information and the figures for prosecutions could not be obtained without prolonged research. The table also shows convictions for the more serious traffic offences—defined as dangerous and careless driving, driving without a licence or third party insurance, speeding, drunken driving, failing to stop after an accident, forgery of a driving licence and driving 239W whilst disqualified—and for all traffic offences. The drop in the latter in 1972 and 1973 was caused by the introduction
Accidents Notified Fatal Serious Slight Total Serious Traffic Offences All Traffic Offences 1969 … … 314 3,970 5,891 10,175 N.A. 174,350 1970 … … 367 4,908 6,555 11,730 21,525 170,814 1971 … … 362 4,346 7,572 12,280 27,636 169,494 1972 … … 414 4,679 7,705 12,798 24,351 94,286 1973 … … 455 4,819 7,240 12,714 28,375 133,086
§ Mr. Carterasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people have died as a result of injuries sustained in road traffic accidents in Hong Kong in each of the past five years; and how many of these cases have resulted in prison sentences for those found guilty of dangerous or unlawful driving.
§ Mr. BlakerThe number of people killed as a result of road traffic accidents during the calendar years 1969 to 1973 was:
1969 326 1970 381 1971 383 1972 441 1973 482 In some cases more than one person was killed in the same accident. Because of the way the statistics are classified, it is not possible to say without substantial further research how many of these cases have resulted in prison sentences.
The following table shows the number of people who served or are serving prison sentences for dangerous driving and other road traffic offences:
(A) (B) Financial Year Dangerous Driving Other Road Traffic Offences 1969–70 Not available (different classification used) 1970–71 6 40 1971–72 4 4 1972–73 2 13 1973–74 5 68
§ Mr. Carterasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the rules for extradition between Hong Kong and the United Kingdom; and on how many occasions they have been used over the past five years.
§ Mr. BlakerExtradition arrangements between Hong Kong and the United Kingdom are governed by the Fugitive240W of a fixed penalty ticket system for parking offences, which are thus excluded for those years.
Offenders Act 1967 as applied and modified by the Fugitive Offenders (Hong Kong) Order 1967.
During the last five years the figures of applications for return of fugitives from Hong Kong to the United Kingdom were as follows: 1969, nil; 1970, nil; 1971, 1 application—successful; 1972, 1 application, which was withdrawn following the voluntary return of the fugitive; 1973, nil. There were no applications under the Fugitive Offenders Act for any returns to Hong Kong from the United Kingdom over the same period.
§ Mr. Carterasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many murders took place in Hong Kong in each of the past five years; how many of these resulted in criminal charges being preferred; and how many and of what kind were the subsequent sentences.
§ Mr. BlakerHomicides cannot be classified as murders until the courts have so found. During the calendar years 1969 to 1973 the following numbers of homicides were reported to the police with the results indicated:
No. of Cases Reported 1969 55 1970 71 1971 98 1972 115 1973 110 No. of Cases Taken to Court 1969 35 1970 46 1971 67 1972 65 1973 62 The following table shows the outcome of murder cases dealt with in the Supreme Court during the financial years 1968–69 to 1972–73. Although all cases were trials for murder, some convictions were for lesser offences. Convictions for murder in Hong Kong carry the death 241W sentence—although this has not been carried out since 1966—and can therefore be distinguished from manslaughter
1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 Number Committed for Trial … 39 44 64 72 103 Nolle Prosequi … … 2 5 2 1 — Acquitted … … 13 12 10 12 19 Pending … … — — — — 37 Convicted … … 24 25 52 59 47 Death Sentence … … 3 — 8 12 13 Prison … … 12 15 22 22 22 Detained at HM pleasure … — 1 — 10 7 Training Centre … … 8 8 16 7 2 Probation … … 1 1 3 2 — Bound Over … … — — 3 1 — No Sentence passed … … — — — 1 — Mental Hospital … … — — — 4 3
§ Mr. Carterasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the investigations into corruption now taking place in Hong Kong to be completed; and to whom the report will be handed.
§ Mr. BlakerAs I informed the hon. Member in my reply on 21st January, the Governor has set up an independent Anti-Corruption Commission. The commissioner, who will be subject to the control and direction of the Governor, has been appointed and the commission starts operations this month. The commission is a permanent body and its functions broadly are to investigate complaints of corruption, to take steps for the prevention of corruption and to enlist community support in its elimination. Its work will be continuous and long-term. It is not a commission of inquiry in the sense suggested in the Question, though the commissioner will be required to report annually to the Governor and the Legislative Council.—[Vol. 867, c.239.]