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RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY No. 51 (H) - 4 SEP 1974
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TELNO 766 DATED 3 SEPTEMBER 1974
READ OF CID
HKK 14/17:
1. THE METROPOLITAN POLICE HAVE HAD A TELEPHONE CALL FROM
HOWELLS SAYING THAT HE INTENDS TO RESIGN. APPARENTLY HE
WOULD SAY NO MORE ON THE TELEPHONE,
2. THE COMMISSIONER IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AND IS
CONSIDERING SENDING OUT COMMANDER JOHN MORRISON, WHO IS
HOWELLS FORMER BOSS, TO SEE IF HE CAN SORT MATTERS OUT,
ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER WOODS WILL ALSO TRY TO TELEPHONE
SLEVIN TODAY,
3. IT SEEMS EXTRAORDINARY THAT AN EXPERIENCED METROPOLITAN
POLICEMAN WHO WAS FULLY BRIEFED AND ANXIOUS TO COME TO
HONG KONG, SHOULD GIVE UP SO QUICKLY, THERE HAS BEEN A
CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PUBLICITY ABOUT HIS APPOINTMENT: AND
HIS RESIGNATION WOULD INEVITABLY ATTRACT UNFAVOURABLE
ATTENTION.
4. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR EARLY COMMENTS ON THE SITUATION
AND ON THE IDEA OF A VISIT BY MORRISON,
CALLAGHAN
FILES
HKIOD
OPA
MR MALE
PA
B
5/9
CONFIDENTIAL