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POLICE
curfew, the full call out of the auxiliary fored, and partial call out of the Hong Kong Regiment, and the use of a company of military with the rest of the battalion standing by. (On 13th Eates undertook a tougher assignment successfully with two police and one military company).
(3) His anxiety about the use of excessive force. I recalled his statement at one of my conferences that he could be charged as an accessory to murder. He claimed this was said jokingly but I believe the possibility was in his mind. think als reluctance to commit his men
was due to two conflicting reasons, both of which he has referred to at one time or another fear that they might go beserk and fear that because of the possible legal consequences they might not go in at all. On another occasion in Executive Council he refused to reply when an unofficial asked whether a constable was entitled to use his revolver if someone threw acid on him: he said it was a legal matter).
3. I tried to avoid saying anything that might look like specific charges or dereliction of duty and based my case on the impossibility of my being able to administer long Kong in present circumstances without full confidence in the leadership of the police force. I considered it to be in the interests of the force and of Hong Kong that he should relinquish command.
4. There is, of course, no question of his loyalty and devotion to duty. In my opinion he was heading for a breakdown. Always reserved and with a tendency to vindictiveness, I understand he has been getting increasingly touchy. The obsessions referred to in paragraph 2 above were eating into him and must soon have started scriously to infect the force. His whole attitude of mind had become, as I told him, defeatist.
5. Clague has since told me that when he and Eates were consulted by Tyrer they both advised him in the interests of the force to go. (If he contested the issue it would risk splitting the force in a battle he would not win and in which they could not support him).
6. Tyrer has lost out through circumstances not within his control. My consolation is that there is already a new spirit abroad in the force.
Siv A. Galsworthy. ()
Distribution : Mr. Carter 1
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