GRPS 570
IMMEDIATE
CYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 2605157
CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAL HA
TOP COPY
HKK 14/17
TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELNO 335 OF 26TH MARCH, 1973. INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON.
YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 299.
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS.
REF.
I AGREE BOTH THE PROPOSED REPLIES.
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2. THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPHS PROVIDE BACKGROUND (NOT INTENDED FOR DISCLOSURE) AND SUGGESTED MATERIAL FOR USE IN CASE MR. JOHNSON ASKS ANY SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONS,
3. BACKGROUND. A SENIOR POLICE OFFICER (SUSPECTED OF CORRUPTION) AND HIS WIFE WERE RECENTLY SENT LETTERS BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ASKING THEM TO EXPLAIN THE SOURCE OF THEIR ASSETS. THIS WAS LEAKED TO THE PRESS, PROBABLY BY THE OFFICER CONCERNED. THE CHINA MAIL THEN PUBLISHED A NEWS ITEM, SAYING THAT SOME FIFTY SENIOR OFFICERS HAD BEEN WRITTEN TO IN THIS WAY. FOLLOWING AN OFFICIAL DENIAL WHICH GAVE THE TRUE FACTS, THE MAIL HAS FOR SOME WEEKS BEEN RUNNING A SENSATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION CAMPAIGN BASED LARGELY ON VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE PUBLIC IN PUBLIC OPINION POLLS BUT ON NO HARD EVID- ENCE. IT HAS ALSO SAID THAT ELLIS (OUR SAVINGRAM TO YOU NO 854 OF 19TH NOVEMBER 1971 REFERS) IS REVIVING HIS ALLEGATIONS OF WRONGFUL DISMISSAL FROM THE POLICE FORCE: WE HAVE HAD A TELEGRAM FROM HIM TO WHICH A REPLY IS BEING SENT. IN ADDITION IT HAS PUBLICISED AN ACTION AGAINST GOVERNMENT BY POLICE SGT. KHAN ARISING FROM HIS REVISION FROM INSPECTOR TO A LOWER RANK IN 1968 AT THE END OF HIS INSPECTORS' INITIAL TRAINING COURSE: HE ALLEGES HE WAS REVERTED BECAUSE
HE REFUSED TO PAY CRAFT. IN FACT HE HAD PASSED HIS EXAMINATION AT
THE END OF THE COURSE IN BOTTOM PLACE AND HAD NOT BEEN ADJUDGED
SUITABLE TO PASS OUT.
4. I SUSPECT THAT THIS CAMPAIGN HAS PROMPTED MR. JOHNSON'S
QUESTION. THE NEWSPAPER FORECAST LAST WEEK THAT IT WAS TO BE ASKED.
/5. THERE WAS
CONFIDENTIAL