TNAG-0294-FCO40-330-Recruitment-of-officers-from-other-countries-by-Government-o-1971 — Page 5

Mr

wyford

CONFIDENTIAL

12

B

NICKI, SE

RECRUITMENT OF INSPECTORS OF POLICE FOR HONG KONG

1. The Hong Kong Government told us in August (saving despatch

No Staff 89) that they were thinking of advertising vacancies

in the Inspectorate in the South African and Rhodesian press.

2. We have consulted the Overseas Police Adviser, Rhodesia

Political and Economic Departments and Central and Southern

African Department. There is no objection to advertising in

the South African press. Moreover, it is agreed generally

that it would be desirable to stipulate the possession of a UK

passport as a qualification for appointment.

3. As regards Southern Rhodesia, however, Rhodesia Political

Department have drawn attention to the problem of allegiance

commenting that it would be undesirable to accept into the

service of the Crown a senior Rhodesian Police Officer who has

presumably been serving a regime in rebellion against the Crown.

I think myself that it would be undesirable to encourage any

member of the BSAP (who is presumably bolstering up an illegal

regime) to apply for appointment in Hong Kong. Our Embassy

in Pretoria doubt whether, in practical terms, the proposal

to recruit in Rhodesia is manageable. We had an exchange of

correspondence about recruitment in South Africa with Hong Kong

and Pretoria early in 1970. If the Hong Kong Government

manage to attract applications from any likely candidates in

South Africa I assume that they will proceed on the lines set

out in Mr Lightbody's letter to Mr Carter of 13 February, 1970.

14.

CONFIDENTIAL