11 -
the leaders immediately caved in. Since then on the
surface there has been comparative calm.
11. The Force remains highly disciplined and effective
in its normal duties.
Corruption on a major scale no
longer exists in it, or in Hong Kong. The partial
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amnesty has lifted fear of prosecution for old but of
course not current offences from all but a handful of
not more than 200 men in the Colony. It was these men,
interdicted from duty while under investigation,
discontented and frightened, who were at the heart of the
events leading up to this amnesty. These events included
the plausible demand for the formation of a Junior
Police Officers' Association, which was granted. The
issue that must be settled in the next few months is
whether the Junior Police Officers' Association will
devote itself to the cause of these 200 and thus
precipitate another confrontation with the Government,
or concern itself with the conventional subjects for
such an Association.
settled the better.
The sooner this issue can be
Unfortunately Legal complexities
have delayed advice as to what action against the men
is possible and this delay has provided some spurious
sympathy for them certainly in the Force and perhaps
amongst the public. The health of the Force requires
that most of them be got rid of as soon as possible,
and that where charges can be laid they should be.
Once this potentially dangerous problem has been disposed
CONFIDENTIAL