Mr Murray
PS
S
CONFIDENTIAL
I
1
HKX. 382/15
12
NOV 1977
See. 155
HONG KONG POLICE: RHODESIA
1.
The Secretary of State has asked if, in conjunction with Rhodesia Department, I would make an assessment of the likely repercussions of the incident in Hong Kong involving Mr Robert Parry MP for Lord Carver's intended use of Mr Henry in Rhodesia.
2. I do not believe that the Parry incident alone would be enough to cause me to recommend that Mr Henry should not be appointed as Commissioner of Police-designate in Rhodesia. I discussed the incident not only with the Governor and Mr Henry himself but also with several others in Hong Kong and came to the conclusion that Mr Parry did not leave with any animus against Mr Henry personally. On the contrary, it seems that Mr Henry who displays a high degree of charm and diplomacy impressed Mr Parry. One cannot, of course, dismiss the possibility that Mr Parry, despite his apparent liking for Mr Henry, would still attack Mr Henry's appointment to Rhodesia in the overall context of his grievances against the Hong Kong Police.
*
3. However, since my visit to Hong Kong a large number of off- duty policemen in Hong Kong took part in a demonstration which culminated in a small number of them forcing entrance to the Office of the Independent Commission Against Corruption and assaulting some members of the Commissioner's staff. This incident did not gain wide publicity in Britain. Nevertheless, those in Parliament and those who are interested in Hong Kong will certainly be well aware of the incident.
4.
The unfortunate coincidence of the Parry and the ICAC incidents, in my judgement, will reinforce the generally poor opinion held in
I therefore some quarters in Britain of the Royal Hong Kong Police. recommend that Lord Carver's views be sought about the wisdom of
CONFIDENTIAL
/going