Flags A & B
Mr Mupper Cortazzi
PS/Lord Goronwy-Robart
PS.
SECRET
Effones bout
HONG KONG: YAU MA TEI CASES
Apund 18/8
у
Shall
1. On Friday, 7 April, the Government of Hong Kong will announce that 26 Police and Customs Officers have been summonsed to answer
charges in connection with the so-called "Yau Ma Tei fruit market" corruption case. At the same time it will be announced that a further 119 officers are being retired under Colonial Regulation 55 (which, the Minister will recall, allows the Secretary of State to signify to colonial officials the pleasure of the Crown that they should no longer hold office, without having to give any reasons for his action). Since the announcement (which is to be made at 10.00 a.m. Hong Kong time, 3.00 a.m. UK time) makes clear that the decision to use CR55 was taken by the Secretary of State, it is possible that we shall also receive press enquiries here
in London.
2. I attach copies of the press release and guidance notes for press enquiries which are to be used in Hong Kong: these were, of course, cleared with us and the attached texts incorporate the amendments we suggested to the original drafts and a number of subsequent minor amendments made by the Hong Kong Government.
3. I recommend that if we are asked about the role of the
Secretary of State we should confirm that in each case where CR55 is being used, the papers were carefully studied in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. In each ease a report was submitted to
the Secretary of State, who decided that it was not in the public
interest for the officers concerned to continue to hold office.
Since CR55 does not require any explanations to be given, we should decline to be drawn any further. Any other enquiries about any other aspects of the Yau Ma Tei case, should be referred to the Hong Kong Government.
HKA 412/393/4
5 April 1978
No
CC:
Mr Cortazzi
News Dept
OPA
10 APR 1978
674.
FA
SECRET
23. S1
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0.2. Quantill
Tuke W E Quantrill1
WE
Hong Kong & General Dept
Mord Corlig.
للغزاة
47.