7
*
尸
Yes
Endeed.
SECRET
-41-
Mr Henry (whom he admitted was not the ideal selection for the job) and that the fact that the candidate would be selected and appointed by him would be a sufficient public indication of the Hong Kong Government's confidence in the Appointee, which he would expect public opinion in Hong Kong to acknowledge. After further discussion he acknowledged that a committee of some sort might be a useful public opinion ploy, but he remained unconvinced of how it could operate in relation to his own power of selection and appointment.
(b) Sir M MacLehose explicitly confirmed what he had said in his letter of 3 July to me that the Special Branch should be inspected, but insisted that this could best be done by attaching a Scotland Yard Special Branch Officer to Mr Crane's next Inspection visit. This officer would then review the structure and working conditions of the Special Branch. Sir M MacLehose rejected the need for a deeper inspection to cover the actual requirements, targets or objectives for which a Special Branch was needed. He acknowledged that one of the shortcomings in the police crisis last year was that the Special Branch was not targeted on the police force itself. Nevertheless, he insisted that the Special Branch targets were constantly reviewed by the local Security and Intelligence organs in Hong Kong, and that there was therefore no need to include these aspects in an administrative inspection. He therefore saw no need to talk with Sir Howard Smith during his present visit to the UK.
2.
On the main question of finding a new Commissioner of Police, Sir M MacLehose will be consulting Sir Colin Woods. He is already interested in Sir Kenneth Newman and does not think that his RUC connection would cause a problem in Hong Kong. Sir K Newman, in any case, has Colonial Police experience, which is a plus factor. I am inclined also to agree that the RUC connection would not cause difficulty, either in Hong Kong or the United Kingdom: I have seen no reference to Mr Purdon's previous connection with the Province. But we must wait and see whether
Thereafter I Sir C Woods comes up with any other candidates. think we should revert to the idea of some special advisory committee. On the question of Special Branch inspection, however, I am inclined to fall-in with the Governor's wishes, though it might be as well for Mr Cortazzi or me to have a word with Mr Crane before the latter's next visit, to ensure that any Special Branch Inspector should at least consider what the Hong Kong Special Branch is employed for.
21 July 1978
SECRET
D Murray
Mr
E