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Mr Cortazzi
CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Mc Karen
THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE (RHKPF)
1.
HKK 382/1
RECEIVED IN REUSITY MO. 51 12 JUNI9/3
DESK OFFICE
INDEX
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R. TRY Action Teen
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Mr JW D Crane will be calling on you at 3.00 p.m. on 9 June. The Overseas Police Adviser and I will be present, together with Mr Thompson of this Department.
2. Mr Crane, who is one of HM Inspectors of Constabulary, recently returned to the UK after conducting a review of the organization and operation of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force. He and his two colleagues (Chief Superintendent Wallen and Chief Superintendent Humphrey) were invited to carry out this review by the Governor after disturbances within the RHKPF last autumn, culminating in the near mutiny of 5 November had revealed the existence of serious problems of organization, staff management and morale.
3. The team began their review in January and completed it in the middle of last month. Their detailed recommendations are contained in 19 papers on various subjects concerning the RHKPF and ICAC. We have not yet received copies of these papers but I attach an ExCo Memorandum summarizing the recommendations and the Hong Kong Government's proposals with respect to their implementation.
4. The team's overall conclusion is that administration, man- management, discipline and control have been neglected during a period in which the RHKPF has expanded rapidly to cope with a rising crime rate. The recommendations are intended to produce improvements
in all these areas.
5. The most important of the individual recommendations and the Hong Kong Government's reactions are:
a)
Organization of Police Headquarters:
The team found that the provision of administrative support had not kept pace with the expansion of the Force in recent years. To remedy this they recommended the creation of 11 extra posts and a reorganization of headquarters to allow greater emphasis on personnel and management. ations have been accepted. The new posts, most of which will
CONFIDENTIAL
These recommend-