Telephone: London 940 9214
Sir Murray MacLehose Governor of Hongkong
Government House HONGKONG BOC
Your Excellency
20 Bishops Close Ham Common Richmond
Surrey ENGLAND
11 November 1973
H.C.S.
JK. f
S C S pe
Establishment Regulation 303 and the
recommendations of Sir Alistair
Blair-Kerr
M
1574
In his second report on corruption Sir Alistair Blair-Kerr recommends the redrafting of Establishment Regulation 303 to include as grounds for not confirming an official to the permanent and pensionable establishment "the slightest suspicion" of corruption, or alternatively revoking 303 because the Government should not have to tell a probationer why he is being got rid of, partly because probationers have on occasion challenged the reasons given.
That any official should have to conduct his duties in the shadow of any "slightest suspicion" that might be manufactured to secure his removal from office because he is efficient, energetic and honest I hope you will agree is unwise.
While I agree that the "iron rice bowl" of confirmation has created problems in dealing with those permanent and pensionable establishment officers who are corrupt, officers on probation and contract enjoy only the weak protection of what is a very fine "porcelain rice bowl" - Establishment Regulation 303 and its requirement that officers be given reasons for their discharge. That some contract and probationary officers have contested these reasons as bogus and have the proof, positive and deductive, to so prove them should indicate to an impartial mind that there is something wrong in the existing system and most questionable in the light of the "widespread" corruption Sir Alistair has recognised but not specifically put his finger on.
*
I hope Your Excellency' will allow me to advise (based on my experience of the Police Force) that the corruption conspiracy has already sufficient means to intimidate energetic young probationary officers. This intimidation has been achieved simply by corrupt officers awarding their probationary subordinates bogus 'unfavourable' progress reports until the probationers compromise with the conspiracy by either 'getting on the bus' (i.e.accepting retainers from corrupt colleagues) or 'walking beside the bus' (i.e: declining retainers but adopting a low profile in execution of their duties, simultaneously discouraging colleagues and subordinates from efficiently exercising their duties - in order to avoid trouble, retain their means of livelihood and secure promotion). The fact that the Police Force has had in Charles Sutcliffe an honest leader is no utterly effective defence against this form of intimidation, for a departmental head must have regard for the chain of command just as a governor receiving a petition from a probationer
...OVER/