CONFIDENTIAL
-3-
THE MACLENNAN AFFAIR
6. Police Inspector MacLennan was to have been arrested in
January 1980 on charges related to homosexual acts (illegal in
Hong Kong). The arresting party found MacLennan locked in his
bedroom dead from 5 pistol wounds. Despite overwhelming evidence
that MacLennan has committed suicide, the Coroner's Jury returned
an open verdict. This fuelled rumours that he had been murdered
to protect senior government servants who were also homosexuals.
Following increasing concern, in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong,
the Governor set up a judicial Commission of Inquiry on MacLennan's
death. It would be inappropriate to comment until its investigations
are complete.
OVERSEAS STUDENTS' FEES
7. Her Majesty's Government decided in 1979 that they could no
longer afford to subsidise the fees paid by overseas students
(excepting those from the European Community) in the United Kingdom.
There is a good deal of concern about this in Hong Kong, and there
is evidence that large numbers of Hong Kong students who may
otherwise have come to the United Kingdom have applied for
North American courses. The Secretary of State decided earlier
this year not to pursue the case for exemption for Dependent
Territory students. The Hong Kong Government have now announced
their own means-tested loan scheme for Hong Kong students on first-degree or equivalent courses in the United Kingdom. Meanwhile,
the DES and FCO are monitoring the consequences of the fees decision.
NEXT GOVERNOR
8. Sir Murray MacLehose is to retire in April 1982.
have yet been made on his successor.
No decision
CONFIDENTIAL
/REPRESENTATIVE