CONFIDENTIAL
90
GRS 150
FLASH
CYPHER CAT/A
FM HONG KONG 090930Z
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED
(7 N-52
10 SEP 1974
ARC14/4
PLA As
TO FLASH F C O TELEGRAM NUMBER 915 OF 9 SEPTEMBER.
PERSONAL FOR SIR DUNCAN WATSON,
(FB)
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YOUR TELNO 778 AND MY TELNO 908 PARAS 4 TO 6: COMMANDER HOWELL.
THE EXPLANATION THAT HOWELL'S RETURN WAS FOR URGENT PRIVATE REASONS NEVER HELD UP, AND THE LOCAL REACTION HAS BEEN QUICK, STRONG AND DAMAGING TO THE HONG KONG POLICE FORCE.
2. THE CRITICS ARE HAVING A FIELD DAY, TYPICALLY MRS ELLIOTT IN THE STAR IMPLIED THAT ONCE AGAIN THE GOVERNMENT IS ATTEMPT- ING TO MUZZLE A MAN WHO MIGHT HAVE UNCOVERED CORRUPTION IN THE
FORCE AND THAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD DEMAND AN EXPLANATION FOR HIS
DEPARTURE. THE ENTIRE PRESS IS ASSUMING THAT HIS DEPARTURE RESULTS FROM IMMEDIATE DISILLUSIONMENT WITH THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE, AND FROM REFUSAL TO ALLOW HIM TO INTRODUCE NEW METHODS, AND GENERAL COLD-SHOULDERING.
3. 1 AM AFRAID THAT WE MUST NOW ISSUE A FULLER STATEMENT FOR THE MORNING PAPERS SO AS TO HOLD THE SITUATION UNTIL THE RESULTS OF HOWELL'S MEDICAL EXAMINATION ARE KNOWN. TEXT IS AS FOLLOWS:
*ON COMMANDER HOWELL'S ARRIVAL IN THE COLONY HE APPEARED
TO BE IN GOOD HEALTH AND SPIRITS. HOWEVER ON THE SIXTH DAY HE BEGAN TO SHOW SYMPTOMS OF GREAT PERSONAL STRESS. ON THE POSITION BEING COMMUNICATED TO SCOTLAND YARD COMMANDER MORRISON, COMMANDER HOWELL'S FORMER COMMANDING OFFICER, FLEW OUT TO ASSESS THE SITUATION. ON HIS ADVICE COMMANDER HOWELL WAS IMMEDIATELY REPATRIATED FOR MEDICAL EXAMINATION BY THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE. WE CAN MAKE NO FURTHER COMMENT UNTIL THE RESULTS OF THIS EXAMINATION ARE KNOWN."
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