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Mr Cortazzi
CONFIDENTI AL COVERING SECRET
To to hard Soronary - Roberts James 192
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HONG KONG: YAU MA TEI CORRUPTION CASES
2
Secretary of State
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1. FCO Telegram no. 99 gave the Secretary of State's personal support for action to be taken under Colonial Regulation 55 in respect of those Police Officers in the Yau Ma Tei case against whom there is sufficient evidence to convince any reasonable person of their involvement in corrupt activities. The Hong Kong Govern- ment now propose to recommend discharge for 140 officers.
2. We have now received two sample files from the Hong Kong Government which I have been assured were selected at random.
Assuming that this is true and that the files are representative of all 140 it is probable that I will be able to satisfy myself that, in most cases at least, "there are sufficient grounds for suspecting that a particular officer was involved in corrupt activities, for it not to be in the public interest for him to
remain in Government service".
2. I have discussed this criterion with the Departmental Legal Adviser and the Attorney General of Hong Kong and we are all satisfied that it is sufficient for discharge under CR55. I
have, therefore, telegraphed to the Governor to confirm that we are satisfied with the proposed arrangements.
4.
The first batch of files should arrive on Friday of this week and the remainder on Saturday. The Governor has now asked if all cases could be decided by Easter. This clearly represents major practical problems but I believe the Governor has established that the need to reach a rapid decision is paramount.
5. Under normal circumstances an application for a discharge under CR55 would be a matter within my competence and one which I would decide after consultation with the Departmental Legal Adviser and, if necessary, the Overseas Police Adviser. However, the political implications of discharging 149 police officers at one time are clearly such that the matter should be submitted te
CONFIDENTIAL
COVERING SECRET
HKA 412/393/4
TY NO. 51 28 MAR 9/3
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