GR 745
MMEDIATE
HER CAT A
FM HONG KONG 0709ØØZ
SECRET
SECRET
See 681
50247
See 55
HKK 382/2.
* PAR
(45)
WE ASS
As
TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELNO 279 OF 7 MARCH 1978.
22
YOUR TELNO 99 OF 6 FEBRUARY: YAU MA TEI CORRUPTION CASE.
1. I AM MOST GRATEFUL FOR YOUR APPRECIATION OF OUR DIFFICULTIES AND FOR YOUR AGREEMENT TO THE USE OF CR 55 IN DEALING WITH THOSE WHOM WE ARE CONVINCED WERE INVOLVED IN THE WIDESPREAD YAU MA TEI
CORRUPTION SYNDICATE.
2. PREPARATION FOR THE PROSECUTION OF SOME OF THOSE INVOLVED IS
WELL ADVANCED AND THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL EXPECTS TO BE ABLE TO CHARGE A NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS BEFORE THE END OF NEXT MONTH.
3. IN ROUND NUMBERS WE ESTIMATE THAT, OUT OF THE 180 SUSPECTS IN THE YAU MA TEI CASE, ABOUT 40 ARE LIKELY TO BE CHARGED.
4. OF THE REMAINING 140, ABOUT 40 WOULD BE RETURNED TO DUTY WITH AN INTIMATION THAT NO FURTHER CRIMINAL OR DISCIPLINARY PROCEED- INGS WILL BE TAKEN AGAINST THEM IN RELATION TO THE YAU MA TEI
CORRUPTION CASE.
5. THIS LEAVES ABOUT 100 WHOM THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL WOULD NOT WISH
TO PROSECUTE BUT TO REMOVE FROM THE FORCE BY COMPULSORY RETIREMENT
UNDER CR 55.
6. AFTER DISCUSSION WITH THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL, THE COMMISSIONER
OF POLICE, THE COMMISSIONER AGAINST CORRUPTION AND OTHER ADVISERS,
I CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE FOLLOWING FOUR ALTERNATIVE COURSES WERE OPEN TO US
:
A. TO PROSECUTE 40 AND ASK YOU TO USE CR 55 AGAINST ANOTHER 100
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
B. TO PROSECUTE 40 AND ASK YOU TO US CR 55 AGAINST ANOTHER 100
AFTER A SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION HAS BEEN COMPLETED.
SECRET
/C. TO PROSECUTE