From: Robin Cook MP
HOUSE OF COMMONS
LONDON SWIA OAA
OFFICE LURD PRIVY S Asian LGA kar advice
Copies + ciald Jeply by
to Muud (in Les's
absence) cc Is My Mend
Psiles.
4th March 1982
LIKCK 380/2
The Rt Hon Humphrey Atkins MP
The Lord Privy Seal
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Downing Street
LONDON SW1
Dear Humphrey,
NOT A
See 73
16 MAR 1987
DESK OFFICIA
INDEX
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16/
Ar 193
During the past two years I was in touch with Peter Balker concerning the investigations by the Government of Hong Kong into the death of Inspector John MacLennan.
I have now received through one of the contacts I acquired at the time a copy of a circular issued by the Hong Kong Government Secretariat. Attached to its heads of departments. I enclose a copy of the document with
this letter. The circular starts by stating that following the report on the death of Inspector MacLennan, this is being issued to provide guidance on the employment of homosexuals.
I am bound to say that I am gravely disturbed by the guidance which it offers. The circular contains a quite explicitly discriminatory ban on the employment of homosexuals within any grade of the Civil Service, a blanket discrimination which would not be tolerated within the UK Civil
Service.
Nor is this guidance confined to applicants for posts with the Government. It apparently should be applied retrospectively to any employee. Paragraphs 4 and 5 are ambiguous as to the extent to which discrimination should be applied to serving employees. Paragraph 4 would appear to suggest that it should be confined only to those who have been convicted of an offence, but paragraph 5 clearly widens this application to cover even those who are only
even those who are only "suspected homosexuals". It must be doubtful whether it is consistent with departmental efficiency, let alone acceptable as a matter of principle, that heads of departments should be quite so intimately concerned with the private lives of their employees of every grade.
contd