R.
No 52
16 SEP 1974
NEW SCOTLAND YARD BROADWAY, LONDON, SW1H OBG
97
Mr. A. C. Stuart,
Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
Hong Kong Department,
LAST
RF
King Charles Street,
London, S.W.1.
しん
Dear
In Sinan
NEX
REF.
101
#
11th September, 1974
In response to the telegram from Hong Kong Police regarding Commander Howell the current situation is that on his return from Hong Kong on Saturday 7th September, Mr. Howell was seen immediately by his private Doctor and placed sick suffering from "anxiety state".
Arrangements were put in hand for him to be examined by a psychiatric specialist at St. Thomas's Hospital on Monday 9th September, and the specialist's initial report indicates the officer is suffering from an acute depressive illness. It is understood that the extent and indeed the basic causes of the illness will not be known until the patient himself is well on the road to recovery.
His
Treatment was put in hand at once and this will continue, at present on a daily basis with the officer attending as an out-patient. initial period of sick leave will be a minimum of one month.
As you are no doubt aware, on his appointment to the Hong Kong post, Mr. Howell was required to undergo medical examination at the request of the Hong Kong Government Office in London. This was carried out by Dr. A. C. E. Cole, MD., FRCP., DTM & H., Consultant Physician to the Overseas Development Mnistry and Senior Consultant at the Hospital of Tropical Diseases in London. Mr. Howell was subject to a comprehensive physical examination including X-ray and Dr. Cole's opinion was that Mr. Howell was physically healthy and mentally stable. With the knowledge of the Hong Kong Government Office and of the officer himself this approach was made to Dr. Cole. He was surprised at the speed of the onset of this illness.
In your telegram from Hong Kong, copy of which you forwarded to this office, certain specific questions are posed for answer. It has been possible to talk to the specialist dealing with Mr. Howell, and in response to the question raised in paragraph 2 of the telegram regarding the inadvisability of Howell serving outside his home environment in these circumstances, the medical view is without question that it would be highly undesirable.
With regard to the point raised in paragraph 3A regarding the rapidity of the onset of this illness, the medical view is that in acute depressive illness this can occur very rapidly indeed without prior warning and with no identifiable symptoms immediately prior to the event. In this particular
Cont'd/
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