CONFIDENTIAL
50
GR 150
PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT A
FM HONG KONG 081255Z
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY
HKA 412/393/4.
RIC STAY NO
10 APR 1978
TO PRIORITY F C O TELNO 444 OF 8 APRIL 1978
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON.
PA
No. RS-14ir
THE YAUMATE! ACTION HAS RECEIVED MAJOR COVERAGE IN. ALL THE ENGLISH AND CHINESE NEWSPAPERS. EDITORIAL COMMENT HAS BEEN ALMOST ENTIRELY FAVOURABLE. SOME PAPERS HAVE CARRIED CRITICAL COMMENTS ABOUT THE GENEROSITY'' OF THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION OR THE ''UNFAIRNESS'' OF USING PROCEDURES WHICH DO NOT ALLOW THOSE CONCERNED TO DEFEND THEMSELVES. IN ADDITION MRS. ELLIOTT PREDICTABLY HAS CRITICISED THE GOVERNMENT FOR CATCHING ONLY THE
SMALL FRY. HOWEVER SUCH CRITICAL COMMENT IS REPRESENTED IN THE PRESS AS VERY MUCH A MINORITY VIEW,
2. WITHIN THE POLICE FORCE THE GENERAL REACTION CONTINUES TO BE MILD. THE JPOA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE HAS AGREED THAT IF MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN SUMMONSED ASK FOR HELP OR LEGAL ADVICE THE ASSOCIATION WOULD GIVE IT. THERE ARE NO SIGNS AT PRESENT HOWEVER
THAT THEY INTEND TO MAKE A MAJOR ISSUE OF THE CASE.
MACLEHOSE
+
FILES
HK & GD (5)
OPA
LEGAL ADVISERS
NEWS D
PS
PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS
PS/PUS
MR CORTAZZI
MR MURRAY
:
CONFIDENTIAL
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE, LONDON