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Copy No. 2 of 4 Copies
SECRE Page
Page No. 1 of 5 Pages
S.F
107
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From.....
Commissioner of Police (D.S.B.)
Ref.
(61) in SF/70-281/7
Tel. No. 5-284284 Ext. 277.
Date 22nd March, 1978
G.P. 13A
INJSK
PA
1973
To..
The Honourable the Acting Chief Secretary, C.P. Haddon -Cave, C.M.G., J.P.
Your Ref. In PERSONAL
1
امانية أنا
A General Assessment of the reaction to the proposed arrest and dismissal of Police Officers implicated in the Yaumatei Corruption Case Mr Thomps
Introduction
sot
- a not very helpful recitation of the self evident!
22014
The proposed compulsory retirement under CR55 (but with pensions and other benefits) of some 140 of the Police officers implicated in the Yaumatei corruption case, and simultaneous prosecution of about 40 of them, could provoke widespread reaction throughout the Police Force and from the general public, pressure groups and other organisations.
2.
The existing relationship between the Junior Police Officers Association (JPOA), the interdicted and interviewed officers, and the Rank and File as a whole, is currently in a state of flux and it is, therefore, difficult to predict the reaction of these groups in detail or with any certainty. However, assuming that no radical changes in the attitude of either the JPOA leadership or the Rank and File take place before action against the Yaumatei group is implemented, one of two possible responses can be expected:-
(a) that the receipt of a pension will be viewed
as an acceptable compromise to resolve the long standing grievances of the Yaumatei interdicted officers; or
(b) that the use of CR55 would be considered by
the hard core of Police officers affected and others as unjust.
If the hard core officers do not take any immediate action which alienates them from the rest of the community, they are likely to receive sympathy from some sectors of the press and public who will feel that the arbitrary use of CR55, which allows for no defence or appeal, is contrary to the basic principles of justice and is an indicati that Government had insufficient evidence to prosecute in Court. The natural desire of many to see the corrupt punished could be over-shadowed by the large scale application of this seldom-used and little-publicise Regulation.
The Yaumatei Corruption Case Group
3.
Of the 180-odd Police officers interviewed or interdicted in connection with this case only about 40 who are to be both retired and charged before the Courts will have nothing to lose. Their attitude will be aggravated by the feeling that, just after their hopes have been raised by the failure of the Wong Tai Sin case, they are being punished administratively and then tried for the same offence.
SUJEIT
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23 Dust $3 3 19
SECRET
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