Mention of the functions of the Press, in the airing of matters of public concern. invests with interest outspoken editorial comment made by the "Hongkong Telegraph" on graft and corruption in certain branches of the Government service. The journal, after referring to widespread public belief in the existence of a well-organized, but largely secret, system of graft and corruption involving employees of more than one Government department, spoke of the hundreds of illegal establishments, of a certain type—the reference is obviously to sly brothels—the inmates of which, it is strongly runioured, contribute regular monthly sums to a fund, said to be handed over to an individual who keeps well in the background, and who, in turn, by indirect methods, distributes the money to Government employees. The amount involved is said to be several thousands of dollars per month.
The "Telegraph," in hesitating to make mention of these rumours, says it would not do so but for their widespread circulation and the circumstantial manner in which they are retailed. It suggests, in fairness to those employees and departments to whom the stigma of association does not rightly belong, that the whole matter should be made the subject of rigorous investigation, and adds that if the Government itself is unable to discover the facts, the task might be entrusted to an unofficial commission. "A fruitful avenue of inquiry for such a body," it adds, "would be the source of incomes of subordinates of the type who are obviously living at a standard of life far beyond that made possible - by legitimate earnings" That there is corruption in certain Government departments, there can be no question.
It is, however, no easy task to trace ít to its source. The public, none the less, does expect that some sincere effort be made to get at the facts.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.