Mr
wyford
CONFIDENTIAL
12
B
NICKI, SE
RECRUITMENT OF INSPECTORS OF POLICE FOR HONG KONG
1. The Hong Kong Government told us in August (saving despatch
No Staff 89) that they were thinking of advertising vacancies
in the Inspectorate in the South African and Rhodesian press.
2. We have consulted the Overseas Police Adviser, Rhodesia
Political and Economic Departments and Central and Southern
African Department. There is no objection to advertising in
the South African press. Moreover, it is agreed generally
that it would be desirable to stipulate the possession of a UK
passport as a qualification for appointment.
3. As regards Southern Rhodesia, however, Rhodesia Political
Department have drawn attention to the problem of allegiance
commenting that it would be undesirable to accept into the
service of the Crown a senior Rhodesian Police Officer who has
presumably been serving a regime in rebellion against the Crown.
I think myself that it would be undesirable to encourage any
member of the BSAP (who is presumably bolstering up an illegal
regime) to apply for appointment in Hong Kong. Our Embassy
in Pretoria doubt whether, in practical terms, the proposal
to recruit in Rhodesia is manageable. We had an exchange of
correspondence about recruitment in South Africa with Hong Kong
and Pretoria early in 1970. If the Hong Kong Government
manage to attract applications from any likely candidates in
South Africa I assume that they will proceed on the lines set
out in Mr Lightbody's letter to Mr Carter of 13 February, 1970.
14.
CONFIDENTIAL