Mrs Elliott queries inspector about riots
BY KEVIN SINCLAIR
An Urban Councillor, Mrs Elsie Elliott, has sent a confidential letter to one of Hongkong's best known detectives gaying she wilt~ launch investigations against him in London unless he tells of alleged incidents involving convicted policeman
"The letter was sent to Chief Inspector Jim Currie, a man with a reputation in the police of being a brilliant and dedicated detective.
The letter concerns alleged actions by and Mr Currie in the aftermath of the 1966 riots.
Mrs Elliott said last night she had sent the letter several days ago.
"I wrote to him a year or so ago, but he never answered,” she said.
"I am trying to give him another chance.
Mrs Elliott said: "The sooner Mr Currie speaks the better. He was involved in certain actions under orders.
"I would rather not talk about what action and whom I plan to contact in London.
"I do not want policemen to know."
The incidents to which Mrs Elliott refers in her letter to Mr
ལྕ་
Currie involved police investigations following the 1966 riots investigations which for many years Mrs Elliott has claimed were aimed at fixing the blame for the Star Ferry riots on her.
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During his 22 years in the force, most of them in the CID, Mr Currie has broken scores of important cases. Among them:
The arrest of a man for the Pokfulam double murders in 1970. The man is still detained in Castle Peak Hospital.
The smashing of a peso counterfeiting gang, which earned him a commendation from the
Philippines
Government.
• The arrest of.
. men involved in the Wong Yin-kau murder-kidnap case in 1962.
Mr Currie has many commendations and medals for gallantry, including the King's Commendation for Bravery
He also holds the Colonial Police Medal and the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
Contacted at his home last night and asked for his comment about Mrs Elliott's letter, Mr Currie said:
"I have nothing to hide and neither does the Police Force.
"Apart from that, I am afraid I have no comment at this time.".
SCMP all73
9 NOVEMBER 1973
SOUTH
CHINA
MORNING
Post
डटली
1311731
Inspector names Mrs Elliott in complaint
A policeman who recently received a letter from an Urban Councillor, Mrs Elsie Elliott, yesterday made an official complaint against her at the Central Police Station.
The policeman, Chief Inspector Jim Currie, of the Criminal Records Office, made his complaint after he had received a letter from Mrs Elliott last week.
The letter allegedly urged Mr Currie to give information concerning action taken by him in connection with investigations into the 1966 Star Ferry riots. It was marked "confidential.”
Asked for comment yesterday, a police spokesman said: “A complaint has been lodged and is being looked into by detectives."
Mr Currie refused to comment apart from saying that the complaint was made in his private capacity as a tax-paying citizen and not as a serving police officer.
SCMP
13/11/73
ditor
Asking Insp Currie for help
The front-page article "Mrs Elliott queries inspector about riots" (S.C.M. Post, Nov 9) did not originate from me, and it is inaccurate in some respects..
I did not threaten to launch an investigation in London against Inspector Currie (as I am sure he would confirm): I only asked him to tell what he knew about the incident in 1966, as I understand he did not voluntarily take part in the 1966 frame-up, and I wanted to give him a chance to clear himself.
Not only I but several other persons were wronged in the frame-up, including some young Chinese boys, and I intend that it should eventually be exposed,
That
should have
sent two, senior Inspectors (Mr J. Currie and Mr M. Quinn) from Arsenal Street Headquarters to Tsimshatsui (there was
no cross-harbour tunnel then) just to give sweets to a child whose brother was
detained for rioting, would stretch the credulity of the most naive! yet this is the official explanation accepted by the Police and the Attorney General.
No alternative explanation has been offered by officialdom, but unofficially I have what is undoubtedly the truth from other police.
Please notice that I am not fighting Mr Currie, but asking for his co-operation.
"If we are to make headway in eliminating the corrupt elements in the Police we need the co-operation of nonest senior officers; otherwise what is the purpose of asking the public to co-operate to fight crime?
E. ELLIOTT
13 NOVEMBER 1973
13 NOVEMBER 1973
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