SECRET
142
布政司署
香港下亞
畢道
* Our Ref.: (65) in SCR 6/2801/77
* YOur Ref.:
Mr. R.J.T. Mclaren,
HKK 382/2
GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT
LOWER ALBERT ROAD
HONG KONG
7th November 1978
As, Thompsor
Hong Kong & Generate NO. 51 Foreign & Commor VED IN TERSTRY
2 1 NOW 1978
Whitehall,
London.
DESK OFF.
INDEX/
Dear Robin," No
REC-BAY
Te
1. to prepare a reply in the flight of your own
discussion of the proposed
Action I nat with Walter Easey
CLE
Police Offlcers Retired Under CR55
1214/1
We have been informed that a group of former RHK Police Officers who were compulsorily retired in early April in connection with the Yaumatei conspiracy case is planning to send a delegation of 3 or 4 representatives to the U.K. in late November. It is not clear what line they will take, but the object of the visit seems likely to be to try to gain public sympathy in U.K. for their case and bring pressure on the Hong Kong Government to reinstate them. The group claims to represent the interests of 91 of the 117 Police Officers who were retired in April. They have urged the Junior Police Officers Association to provide moral and financial support to the U.K. delegation. The group has an office in Kowloon and about $30,000 has been raised so far to pay for the trip to the U.K.
2.
Members of the group recently contacted some of the dissident teachers who were involved in the Precious Blood Golden Jubilee School dispute and discussed with them the protest tactics adopted by the teachers, and particularly the visit to the U.K. by two of the teachers. During that visit the two teachers were in touch with members of the Hong Kong Research Project which is led by Mr. Walter Easey, a former Hong Kong Police Officer who in the past has fre- quently been critical of Government policies. The CR55 group is now reported to have been in touch with Mr. Easey and to have been offered assistance by him. He has advised them of the type of publicity material that the delegation should bring with with them to the U.K. and has also offered to arrange interviews for them.
3.
As background information to this proposed visit to the U.K. you will wish to know that since their compulsory retirement in April members of the CR55 group have continued to meet regularly to discuss their situation. Amongst other matters they have sought the reinstatement of their younger members and preferential treatment in Public Housing for the remainder. Members of the group have sought legal advice from private lawyers and have been told that, while there is little they can do to appeal against CR55, they would be able to take legal action if the Police decided to evict them from their quarters.
SECRET
14.