MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1977
3
+MY STATEMENT HAS BEEN UNDER CONSIDERATION BY THE DIFFERENT ASSOCIATIONS OF THE POLICE FORCE.
+HON. MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC WILL BE CONCERNED TO LEARN THAT INFORMALLY IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT IT DID NOT GO FAR ENOUGH- THAT PRESSURE SHOULD BE MAINTAINED ON THE ADMINISTRATION BY DEMONSTRATIONS AND PROGRESSIVE REFUSAL OF LAW ENFORCEMENT UNTIL ALL CURRENT INTERVIEWS, CHARGES AND COURT PROCEEDINGS NOW IN COURSE WERE DROPPED.
+ I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THESE IDEAS ARE PROPAGATED BY THE LESS THAN ONE PER CENT WHO UNDER THE EXCEPTIONS I HAVE MENTIONED REMAIN IN FEAR OF PROSECUTION, AND INSOFAR AS THEY ARE SUPPORTED BY OTHERS IT IS BECAUSE OF A MISTAKEN SENSE OF TEMPORARY EUPHORIA OR
SOLIDARITY.
+ I ASSURE THEM IT IS TIME VERY SOBERLY TO CONSIDER THEIR POSITION. IT IS FOR THE POLICE TO ANSWER TO LAWFUL AUTHORITY AND TO ENFORCE IT NOT TO ANSWER TO A SMALL SELF-INTERESTED GROUP.
+ THE IDEA THAT PRESSURE CAN ACHIEVE FURTHER CONCESSIONS OF THIS SORT WOULD RESULT FROM A COMPLETE MISCONCEPTION OF THE MOOD OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COMMUNITY. IT WOULD ALSO IGNORE THE TRUE INTERESTS OF AT LEAST 99 PER CENT OF THE POLICE FORCE ITSELF. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT TOTALLY IGNORES THE TRUE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG WHERE THE ENFORCEMENT OF LAW AND ORDER AND THE ACHIEVEMENT OF ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS OF HONESTY HAVE MADE SUCH STRIDES IN RECENT YEARS.
+CONCESSION TO SUCH DEMANDS UNDER PRESSURE WOULD INVITE PRESSURE ON OTHER ISSUES- NEXT IT WOULD BE THE SUPPRESSION OF ICAC ITSELF, POSSIBLY TO HAVE PERSONS IN PRISON RELEASED, AND SO ON, UNTIL WE HAD A SITUATION IN WHICH THE LAW WAS BEING ADMINSTERED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE CORRUPT.
+ I KNOW THIS IS NOT WHAT MOST OF THE FORCE AND THEIR FAMILIES WANT, BUT THIS IS WHERE THEY WOULD BE LED IF THE GOVERNMENT WERE TO GIVE ANY FURTHER GROUND. TO DO SO WOULD YIELD TO ANARCHY AND TO ANARCHY THERE CAN BE NO CONCESSION.
+1 AM CONFIDENT IN THIS I AM SPEAKING FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, YOUNG AND OLD, RICH AND POOR.
+ HOPE THAT WISER COUNSELS WILL NOW PREVAIL. BUT IT IS AS WELL THAT ALL SHOULD REALISE NOW, BEFORE IRREVOCABLE ACTION IS TAKEN THAT WE CANNOT ACCEPT THAT POLICEMEN WHO DO NOT ACCEPT LAWFUL AUTHORITY, OR WHO SUPPORT OTHERS IN NOT DOING SO, OR CONTINUE TO ATTEMPT TO DOMINATE LAWFUL AUTHORITY EY MEANS OF PRESSURES, SHOULD REMAIN IN THE FORCE. AND BE PAID BY THE PUBLIC.
+ IN PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES POWERS AVAILABLE ARE TOO SLOW AND PONDEROUS. HON. MEMBERS WILL THEREFORE BE INVITED THIS AFTERNOON TO AMEND THE POLICE FORCE ORDINANCE TO GRANT POWERS OF SUMMARY DISMISSAL.
+1 VERY MUCH HOPE IT WILL NOT BE NECESSARY TO USE THESE POWERS. I HOPE, AS I SAY, THAT WISER COUNSELS WILL PREVAIL AND THAT THE DIALOGUE PROCEEDING WILL CONTINUE.
/+I CAN ALSO