XN000022-1977-12-07 — Page 8

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1977

THE SILENT MAJORITY MUST MAKE THE EFFORT TO BE HEARD IN ELECTIONS AND POLICY MAKING DECISIONS AND TO HELP THIS, METHODS SUCH AS A POSTAL BALLOT WITH SUITABLE SAFEGUARDS MUST BE SET UP.

ANOTHER METHOD SOMETIMES USED TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IS TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF CONSECUTIVE YEARS ANY INDIVIDUAL MAY SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE, HE ADDED.

FATHER MCGOVERN POINTED OUT A PARTICULAR DIFFICULTY IN A POLIC ASSOCIATION. HE SAID THE SYSTEM OF DEFERENCE TO THOSE OF HIGHER RANK OR GREATER SENIORITY IS NECESSARY IN THE WORKING LIFE OF A DISCIPLINED ORGANISATION, BUT WOULD KILL THE ASSOCIATION AT THE FIRST MEETING.

+ IN AN ASSOCIATION EVERY MEMBER WHO PAYS HIS DUES IS OF COMPLETELY EQUAL STANDING WITH EVERY OTHER MEMBER. THIS IS PARTICULARLY VITAL IN ELECTIONS,+ HE STRESSED. IF IT HAPPENS THAT A MOST RECENTLY RECRUITED CONSTABLE IS JUDGED TO BE MOST SUITABLE, WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR, THAT MOST RECENTLY RECRUITED CONSTABLE GETS THE VOTE+.

HE ALSO APPEALED TO THE SILENT MAJORITY IN THE FORCE +TO JOIN HE ASSOCIATION, TO WORK FOR IT, TO VOTE FOR THE BEST LEADERS AND TO USE THE ASSOCIATION NOT ONLY TO REMEDY GRIEVANCES BUT TO WILD UP WHATEVER HAS BEEN KNOCKED DOWN.+

MR. CHEONG-LEEN SAID JUNIOR POLICE OFFICERS COMPRISED THE LARGEST NUMBER IN THE FORCE AND IT WAS FAIR AND REASONABLE THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE THEIR OWN ASSOCIATION, SIMILAR TO THE OTHER THREE FOR THE OTHER RANKS.

IT WILL BE REASONABLE TO EXPECT THAT COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONS WITH THE UPPER RANKS, AND PARTICULARLY THE TOP LEADERSHIP OF THE FORCE, WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE EVEN FURTHER, HE ADDED.

WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE AMNESTY, IT IS THE WISH OF THE COMMUNITY THAT ALL MEMBERS OF THE FORCE SHOULD FROM NOW ON WORK IN UNISON TO IMPROVE LAW AND ORDER. THE WAY IS NOW ALSO CLEAR FOR ALL OF THEM TO JOIN HANDS, WITHOUT BEING OVERSHADOWED BY MUTUAL DISTRUST OR PERSONAL ANXIETIES, TO TRANSFORM THE IMAGE OF THE FORCE.

THERE IS MUCH PUBLIC GOODWILL FOR THEM, WHO ARE AFTER ALL MAINLY HONG KONG MEN AND WOMEN, HE SAID. IT IS UP TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE FORCE BY THEIR SENSE OF SELF-DISCIPLINE AND RESPONSIBILITY, AND THE IR VERY ACTIONS IN CARRYING OUT THEIR DUTIES, TO RETAIN THE GOODWILL, SUPPORT AND RESPECT OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.+

MR. WONG LAM SUPPORTED THE SETTING UP OF THE NEW ASSOCIATION WHICH, HE SAID, WILL NARROW THE GAP BETWEEN THE RANK AND FILE AND THE VERY SENIOR OFFICERS.

AT

PRESENT BECAUSE OF THE RANK STRUCTURE, THEY CANNOT BY-PASS THE IR IMMEDIATE SUPERIORS WHEN THEY WISH TO MAKE SUBMISSIONS. +THIS SORT OF THING IS NATURALLY ESSENTIAL WHEN CARRYING OUT POLICE FUNCTIONS, BUT IN THE SPHERE OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS IT MUST HAVE SERIOUS DISADVANTAGES, HE SAID.

HE ALSO POINTED