TNAG-0493-FCO40-558-Establishment-of-Anti-Corruption-Commission-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 34

CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No.51 28 MAY 1974

Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1

Telephone 01-

Sir Robert Mark QPM

Commissioner of Metropolitan Police

Scotland Yard

Broadway

SW1

HKICH /\

Your reference

Our reference

Date

17 May 1974

99

Dear Sir Robert,

DIRECTOR OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, HONG KONG

dür.

(so)

I have now seen the correspondence ending with Scott's letter to Sir Arthur Peterson of 7 May.

1.

2.

I take Hong Kong's point about the importance of avoiding

First, But two questions worry me. upset among serving officers. is Detective Chief Superintendent Howell in fact the best candidate for this post, regardless of level? I had a personal word with Commander Anning about this in the course of a meeting on other matters. He suggested that this was probably, in fact, the case. Second, in making your proposal you have obviously offered a good man. Hong Kong's response might be regarded as ungrateful, particularly since your suggestion for a candidate for the Anti-Corruption Commission did not come to anything. It is also unfortunate, though coincidental, that Chief Superintendent Howell is currently being so helpful to Hong Kong about the case of Mr Godber.

3.

I am sure that, understanding the background, you will forgive the Hong Kong Government for any apparent ungraciousness.

But if you think they are making a wrong decision or going about it in the wrong way, I would be very willing to have a personal word with the Governor.

Yours sincerely

And St

A C Stuart

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.

CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL