Although they are technically illegal, the government says British firms are unlikely to be prosecuted for stumping up when officials insist on them in countries where they are the normal practice.

• 尽管原则上都是非法的，但政府表示，当某些国家的官员们坚持要求，而在这些国家这些都已司空见惯时，不可能起诉那些为此掏腰包的英国公司。