3-
problem is the antipathy of Mir Cater.
the Anti-corruption Unit in the loyal Hong Kong Police Force
Mr Morrin was in charge of before ICAC was set up. This was a dismally unsuccessful operation, but Mr Morrin has always maintained that the Unit would not have been a failure if it had been given the powers and resources that were given to ICAC. As you will be aware, the Security Service favour giving Mr Morrin the chance to prove himself as Head of the hong Kong Special Eranch.
12 July 1978
COPY TO MR. CORTAZZI
1. Mr Cortazzi
2.
HKGD
W.E. Quantell
WE Quantrill
Hong Kong & General Department
1.
With the exception of paragraph 9 above, these subjects were touched upon in Lord Goronwy-Roberts' meeting with the Governor of Hong Kong on 19 July. Subsequently, at lunch
with Sir M MacLehose, Mr Cortazzi and I raised two of the important points again:-
(a) Given the public attention which will be focussed on the appointment of the next Commissioner of Police, both in the UK and more importantly in Hong Kong itself, we thought it essential that whoever was appointed should be seen to be the best impartial choice in the field. We therefore urged Sir M MacLehose to consider creating an ad hoc advisory committee with membership from the UK and Hong Kong, to interview short-listed candidates and make a recommendation to the Governor. membership of the committee would have to be carefully selected;.
We accepted that for example, the FCO should not be included, since this might be misunderstood in Hong Kong. The Governor expressed a marked reluctance to follow this procedure, pointing out that the appointment rested with him, that he would be prepared to interview short-listed candidates, if any emerged, to be considered alongside
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