KK
HO/FO 032/20
HICK 38215
EVERY HO. $1
P HONG AID
RECEIVED
GRS 500
RESTRICTED
21 JUL 1981
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
FM HONG KONG 201025Z JULY 81
AVISSTRY Action Take:
fus w/
NO C
THL HIGO
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1178 OF 20 JULY
FOR COMMISSIONER
WP
HIGD
YOUR TELEX 16TH JULY ON GUARDIAN ARTICLE BY GARETH
PARRY AND SUBSEQUENT CONVERSATIONS REFER.
Seell
2. NOTHING APPEARED IN THE LOCAL PRESS UNTIL MONDAY 20TH AND
UP TO THEN I HAD BEEN INCLINED TO LEAVE THE ISSUE ALONE, PARTICULARLY IN THE LIGHT OF THE FAVOURABLE STORY IN THE EXPRESS ON THE JPC. WE HAVE ISSUED A BRIEF STATEMENT TO ORIENTAL DAILY
NEWS (WHICH PUBLISHED EXTRACTS FROM THE GUARDIAN) SAYING THAT
THE ARTICLE IS WIDLY INACCURATE AND IRRESPONSIBLE.
3. IF YOU DEEM IT NECESSARY TO MAKE ANY STATEMENT OR WRITE
A LETTER TO THE GUARDIAN, OUR VIEW HERE IS THAT IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE AND INACCURATE, AND THE REPORTER HAS FAILED TO
VERIFY HIS ''QUOTES''. WE SUSPECT THAT THE 'SERVING HONG
KONG OFFICER'' IS FICTIONAL. THE GUARDIAN MAY DESERVE A
PULITZER PRIZE ON THE LINES OF THE ONE RECENTLY AWARDED TO MS
BROOKE OF THE WASHINGTON POST.
4. YOU DON'T NEED TO BE REMINDED OF THE EXTREME CARE WITH WHICH ANY USE OF FIREARMS BY POLICE IS AUTHORISED. FULL DETAILS OF THE CASUALTIES IN THE 1967 DISTURBANCES ARE SET OUT IN THE CONFIDENTIAL REPORT IN BOOK FORM ISSUED BY THE COLONIAL SECRETARIAT IN 1968. HAVE YOU A COPY OF THIS 7. IT IS NOT IMMEDIATELY CLEAR HOW MUCH OF THIS HAS BEEN RELEASED TO THE PRESS OR PUBLIC OVER THE YEARS SINCE 1967, BUT APPENDIX VI QUOTES CONFRONTATION STATISTICS RELEVANT TO PARRY'S ARTICLE AS FOLLOWS - TOTAL DEATHS 51. OF THESE POLICE, MILITARY AND FIRE SERVICES AMOUNT TO 12. OF THE REMAINING 39, 12 WERE KILLED BY EXPLOSIONS OR INCENDIARY ATTACKS, 8 WERE FOUND DEAD OR DIED IN THE COURSE OF RIOTS OR AS A RESULT OF RIOTS AND 17 WERE
SHOT BY POLICE.
5. NATURALLY WE WOULD NOT WISH TO STIR UP ANY DISCUSSION ON SHOOTING BY THE POLICE. WORLD EVENTS SINCE 1967 ILLUSTRATE WHY. BUT IF NECESSARY I AM SURE YOU WILL STRONGLY REFUTE THE RUBBISH ABOUT ''SHOOT TO KILL' AND SHOTTING AS MANY OF THE
RING LEADERS AS THEY COULD’*.
6. LET US KNOW IF WE CAN PROVIDE ANY MORE, IF YOU NEED TO MAKE A STATEMENT. PLEASE INFORM CLIFT IF YOU THINK NECESSARY,
OF ABOVE.
CATER
(مسلم
NNNN
J