GRS 280.

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FM HONG KONG 2910B0Z AUG

SECRET

28 TO IMMEDIATE FORE GN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1080 OF 28 AUGUST, 1980.

Action Takan

DEDIP - PERSONAL FOR YOUDE FROM GOVERNOR.

YOUR TELNO 707: SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT

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1. THE S OF S WILL BE VISITING POLICE HEADQUARTERS FOR THE POLMIL BRIEFING (B) AND BE VISITING THE POLICE SMALL BOAT UNIT (G). CERTAINLY ON THE FIRST, AND PROBABLY ON THE SECOND, OCCASION, THE COMMISSIONER MUST BE PRESENT. THESE WILL AT LEAST ENSURE THE POLICE

ARE NOT LEFT OUT. WHILE THE CALL ON (C) CAN BE DROPPED - IN ANY CASE IT WOULD ONLY AMOUNT TO MOVING INTO A DIFFERRENT OFFICE IN THE

SAME BUILDING - THERE IS NO POLICE FUNCTION OTHER THAN THE DINNER THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE COULD ATTEND WHICH WOULD NOT INVOLVE THE COMMISSIONER'S PRESENCE. AT PRESENT NEITHER THE CALL NOR THE

DINNER ARE EXPECTED.

2. THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY DOES NOT RESUME UNTIL 10 SEPTEMBER. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY EXACTLY WHEN AND HOW THE COMMISSIONER'S NAME MAY COME UP. THOUGH HE WILL PROBABLY COME OUT WELL IN THE EVENTUAL REPORT THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF ADVERSE PUBLICITY AT THE TIME EVIDENCE IS GIVEN, NOTHING ELSE IS EXPECTED BEFORE THE

SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT.

3. MY CONCERN IS SIMPLY TO MAINTAIN THE MORALE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE FORCE. IF PROBLEMS DO NOT ARISE OVER THE COMMISSIONER, ACTION TO SUSTAIN MORALE IS MERELY DESIRABLE, BUT IF THEY DO ARISE OR ARE GOING TO, IT BECOMES VITAL. NEVERTHELESS IT WOULD HELP NOBODY IF THIS LOCAL PROBLEM RUBBED OFF ON THE SECRETARY OF STATE. THE PENULTIMATE SENTENCE OF PARAGRAPH 2 OF MY TELNO 1016 WAS TO

COVER THESE CONSIDERATIONS. I WILL TELEGRAPH AGAIN ABOUT THE TIME

OF THE S OF S'S RETURN FROM LEAVE FOR A DECISION THEN.

MACLEHOSE

LIMITED HD/HK&GD

OPA

PS

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PS/LPS

PS/MR BLAKER

PS/PUS

SIR E YOUDE

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