CA ETO
CYPHER/CAT A
FM
KONG 140301Z
86
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 382/16
1.5 NOV 1977
CONFIDENTIAL
TO PRIORITY F.C.O TELNO.1132 OF 14 NOVEMBER.
FOLLOWING FOR LORD CORONWY-RCBERTS FROM GOVERNOR.
POLICE/ICAC.
1. WE HAVE GOT THROUGH THE TRAUMA OF THE LAST TEN DAYS WITH
REMARKABLY UNANIMOUS SUPPORT IN HONG KONG. HOWEVER, AS THE FEAR OF A BREAKDOWN IN LAW AND ORDER RECEDES, AND AS CRITICISM IN THE UK IS REPORTED HERE, I EXPECT THE POSITION TO CHANGE.
2. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE HERE OR IN THE U.K WHO WISH TO
DISCREDIT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, AND I ASSUME THEY WILL
TRY TO USE THE AMNESTY TO DO SO,
3. IN THE LONG RUN ACTIONS RATHER THAN WORDS WILL PROVE THAT
ICAC IS STILL VERY MUCH IN BUSINESS AND THAT AS MUCH IMPORTANCE
IS ATTACHED TO ITS WORK AS EVER. BUT THIS WILL TAKE TIME
AND MEANWHILE THE MAJOR PROBLEM IS PRESENTATION.
NEXT WEEK I WILL BE MEETING M.PS AND THE PRESS IN LONDON. DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF JACK CATER WERE TO ACCOMPANY ME TO THESE MEETINGS ? THIS COULD AT LEAST DISPEL THE CONCERN EVIDENT IN LORD SHEPHERD'S AND LORD RHODES' INTERVENTIONS ON NOVEMBER 10 THAT HE AND I MAY HAVE BEEN AT CROSS PURPOSES, OR THAT ICAC OPERATIONS HAVE STOPPED.
5. IF YOU AGREE CATER FEELS HE COULD BE SPARED FOR THE TIME
NECESSARY.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
27
HK&GD (5)
OPA
NEWS DEPT
PS
FS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS
PS/PUS
SIR A DUFF MR CORTAZZI MR MURRAY
MR STRATTON
CONFIDENTIAL