2 MARCH (MY TELNO 266 PARA 4) SHOWED THAT THIS PRESSURE GROUP
CAN SWING THE VIEWS OF THE JPOA REPRESENTATIVES. IT CAN AL ATTRACT CONSIDERABLE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT IN THE FORCE AS A WHOLE:
THE YAUMATEI GROUP ARE SEEN AS THOSE WHO WERE 'UNFAIRLY'' LEFT
OUT OF THE AMNESTY, DESPITE HAVING PLAYED A LEADING PART IN FORCING THE GOVERNMENT TO RETREAT. THIS BELIEF IN UNFAIR DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THE YAUMATEI GROUP IS LIKELY TO BE ENHANCED (HOWEVER MISGUIDEDLY) BY THE ACQUITTALS IN THE TAI SIN CASE. GIVEN THESE PRESSURES, MEMBERS OF THE JPOA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE BELIEVE THEY WILL LOSE CREDIBILITY IF THEY DO NOT SUPPOR
THE YAUMATEI GROUP.
WONG
4. OUR PRESENT ASSESSMENT. IS THAT A MAJORITY OF THE JPOA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (AND OF THE FORCE AS A WHOLE) WOULD TRY TO AVOID INVOLVEMENT IN ILLEGAL ACTION BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE YAUMATEI
GROUP, BUT THIS SITUATION COULD CHANGE RAPIDLY. THERE IS A GREAT
DEAL OF EMOTIONAL DRY TINDER AROUND. RUMOURS ARE RIFE. A SPARK COULD EASILY BE PROVIDED BY SOME UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT, SUCH AS · A SUCCESSFUL SUICIDE (THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN TWO ATTEMPTS, ONE AT LEAST STAGE-MANAGED).
5. NOT UNTIL THE YAUMATE CASE IS OUT OF THE WAY (AND THIS WILL
TAKE A CONSIDERABLE TIME) WILL IT BE POSSIBLE FOR THE JPOA EVEN
TO ATTEMPT TO BEHAVE AS AN ORDINARY STAFF ASSOCIATION. EVEN THEN
THE EVENTS OF THE LAST FEW MONTHS WILL MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR
THE JPOA TO STICK STRICTLY TO ITS CONSTITUTION AND BEHAVE AS A CO-OPERATIVE, RATHER THAN DISRUPTIVE, ELEMENT IN THE FORCE. FROM THE BEGINNING THOSE CONCERNED HAVE BEEN ADEPT AT PLAYING TO THE
MEDIA. LOCAL PRESSURE GROUPS, URBAN COUNCILLORS IN SEARCH OF VOTES, AND MRS ELLIOTT (SURPRISINGLY), ALL BUZZ ROUND THE JPOA
THIS ENCOURAGES THE LATTER TO THINK THE TACTICS HAVE BEEN
SUCCESSFUL AND THEY ARE UNLIKELY TO CHANGE THEM UNLESS IT IS
PROVED OTHERWISE.
6. WITH THE HELP OF UNOFFICIALS AND THE MEDIA WE WILL TRY TO BRING
HOME TO THE JPOA THE RISKS THEY ARE RUNNING, AND TO RELIEVE PRESS
ON THEM BY ATTEMPTING TO ISOLATE THE YAUMATE! GROUP FROM THE
SYMPATHY OF THE PUBLIC AND THE RANK AND FILE.
7. TO PUT THIS RATHER ALARMING PICTURE IN PERSPECTIVE THE FORCE
CONTINUES TO CARRY OUT ITS NORMAL DUTIES IN AN EXEMPLARY MANNER.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
OPA
HK&GD (5) MR CORTAZZI
COPIES TO!
HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE
2-