107
the b
MacDonald promised to convey the sad news to the family and was given Mr. D. R. Lidster's telephone number in London as a contact point. Mr. Lidster was Liaison Officer for the Hong Kong Police in the United Kingdom, based at Hong Kong Government Office, Grafton Street, London W.1. Soon after this call and at Ratcliffe's request, the Staff Officer (Interpol) telexed Lidster to seek instructions for funeral arrangements.
90.
The next day (16 January) Lidster was telexed again by Police Headquarters, asking him to seek the parents' permission for an autopsy. 28 On the same day, Lidster spoke to Mrs. MacLennan who gave permission for autopsy and asked that the remains be cremated. Lidster immediately telexed Ratcliffe (see copy of his telex at Plate 25) who then conveyed the message to Trotman.
91. On the morning of the 17 January 1981, Inspector Hancock attended at Kowloon Police Mortuary and identified the body of MacLennan. He then signed a form requesting cremation. Later the same day, the Coroner authorized the Cremation (Exhibit No. B187, see Plate 26).
92.
The Memorial Service at the Union Church and Cremation Service at Cape Collinson Crematorium took place on 22 January 1981. By then the post mortem had been completed for four days. There was no waiting time at the Cape Collinson Crematorium.29 There was no question of the cremation being unduly advanced or delayed. Mrs. Elsie Elliott at a later date charged that the body was cremated with "unholy haste". There was absolutely no basis for this charge.
L.
93.
THE FORENSIC EVIDENCE
The forensic evidence considered at this Inquiry fell into three categories, namely:--
(a) Handwriting;
(b) Forensic Pathology; and
(c) Ballistics.
(a) Handwriting
94.
I had to consider whether the following items were in MacLennan's handwriting:
(i) The signatures and other writings on the Beat Equipment Register (Exhibit No. B5) on the morning of 15
January 1980.
(ii) The alleged “suicide note” (Exhibit No. B1).
95. Although there can be no doubt that Police revolver 4894 was issued out of the Armoury on the morning of 15 January 1980, and that it was the same revolver which was found in MacLennan's flat later that morning, the confirmation that MacLennan's handwriting actually appeared in the Beat Equipment Register would be conclusive that it was MacLennan who drew the revolver. Of course, I had the evidence of the Duty Officer Li and the Armoury Constable Lee, indicating that they recognized that it was MacLennan who was in the Station that morning. It is confirmed that the Beat Equipment Register bore MacLennan's writing. In addition, it is of critical importance that I should determine whether or not the alleged suicide note was written in MacLennan's hand. It was also of importance that I should satisfy myself, if at all possible, that that note, if written by MacLennan, was not written under duress.
96. I had the benefit of the evidence of both local and United Kingdom handwriting experts, namely, Mr. R. Edgley, of the Hong Kong Government Chemist, and Mr. Derek Davis, private practitioner, of the United Kingdom. Both had, for the purposes of comparison, the following documents:-
(i) A memorandum signed by MacLennan in connection with a court case (SPK 403/79) dated 23 February 1979.
(ii) A minute written by MacLennan in file HMT/CR 28/79 dated 24 January 1979.
Mr. Davis also received a five-paged letter written by John MacLennan to his parents dated 2 January 1980.
97.
In addition, Davis arranged, through the Metropolitan Police, six additional documents written by MacLennan in connection with his application to and appointment with the Metropolitan Police dating between February and July 1977.
98.
I have no doubt that the foregoing documents supplied to Edgley and Davis were authentic documents bearing the handwriting of MacLennan.
28
A
29
Technically, it would not be necessary to seek permission for an autopsy. The Coroner, under powers conferred by the Coroners' Ordinance, may order an autopsy.
(U.S.D.'s memorandum) See Lai Chu-kong's statement of 16 February 1981 and the memorandum of the Senior Health Inspector (CC) HK.