CONFIDENTIAL
.C
Line to Take
9-
said the Governor hoped for a cogent, compelling and conclusive report from the Commissioner so that public confidence could be restored. This was criticised by some members of the public and the counsel for Sr. Insp. Fulton as a 'direction' to Mr Justice Yang. The Governor's views were later clarified in another statement to the Commission. At the conclusion of the inquiry, Mr Justice Yang reaffirmed the sanctity of judicial independence which, he said, "brooks no interference from any quarter". His report was submitted to the Acting Governor on July 30 and discussed by ExCo on September 1. The intention is to publish it in English and Chinese versions in mid-October.
Preparations for publication of the report (including its translation) are in hand. As it is very long (over 450 pp), this cannot be done quickly.
LAW AND ORDER AT YAU OI ESTATE
Position
:
Several thousand (reported, actual may be 2,000) residents at the new public housing Yau Oi Estate in Tuen Mun surrounded the Neighbourhood Police Unit on July 12 night in protest against the release of seven youths by the Police who they claimed were hooligans who frequently terrorised their neighbourhood. The youths were earlier chased by some of the residents some holding poles and clubs. The crowd later dispersed after they were promised that the incident would be investigated. On the following night, a meeting was held between 12 resident representatives and Police and Housing Department officials in the presence of Mrs Elsie Elliott who was asked by the residents to mediate. Specific points were raised. Residents wanted more police patrols and vigilance, they said the metal gates installed by the Housing Department could easily be wrested open, they were concerned that there were mysterious markings of '0's and 'X's on their walls which they feared were crime inspired, and they wanted to form their own self- protection groups. It was agreed that the earlier incident arose from misunderstanding. On July 15 night, some one thousand residents were again reported to have taken up cudgels in pursuit of six youths who were said to have returned 'for revenge'. Nobody was caught and on the advice of the Tuen Mun Divisional Superintendent, residents returned home sometime around mid-night. The Star reported that this incident was defused by the way the DS spoke to the residents his pidgin Cantonese amused everyone. The events were widely reported in the Press. In retrospect, Ta Kung Pao commented that due to insufficient recreational facilities in Tuen Mun and due to its distance from urban centres, residents easily felt claustrophobic and excitable. Since they were new to each other and to the environment, it was natural that they were concerned about law and order. On August 11, a group claiming to be Taihing residents representatives, issued a statement objecting to opening of off-course betting centre in estate. They accused Tuen Mun District Board of not properly consulting them.
Further press reports indicated that the group was making a big issue out of the proposal. On September 1, Tuen Mun District Officer announced that the Jockey Club had dropped its plans to set up the centre in the estate.
G
CONFIDENT L
/10......