TNAG-0494-FCO40-559-Establishment-of-Anti-Corruption-Commission-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 36

CONFIDENTIAL

GRS 200

IMMEDIATE

YPHER CAT/A

FM HONG KONG 100945Z

CONFIDENTIAL

RE

NEX

REF.

TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELEGRAM NUMBER 920 OF 10 SEPTEMBER. 1974.

FOR STUART, HKIOD.

YOUR TEL NO 778: COMMANDER HOWELL.

I WAS MOST GRATEFUL FOR WATSON'S PROMPT REPLY. THE INTERIM

STATEMENT IS HOLDING THE LINE FOR THE PRESENT, BUT THE EPISODE

IS SO ODD IN ITSELF AND IN SO SENSITIVE A FIELD THAT INEVITABLY

STILL A GOOD DEAL OF SPECULATION SOME OF WHICH IS PRETTY LURID.

WE THEREFORE PLAN A PRESS CONFERENCE FOR THE ACTING COMMISSIONER

OF POLICE (HENRY) ON FRIDAY EVENING TO GIVE CORRESPONDENTS A

CHANCE OF ASKING OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS AND HOPEFULLY GET IT OUT

OF THEIR SYSTEMS BEFORE THE WEEK-END PAPERS. FOR THIS TO BE

POSSIBLE WE WOULD FIRST HAVE TO HAVE THE SPECIALIST'S REPORT

OR INTERIM REPORT IN A QUOTABLE FORM. THIS WOULD NEED TO BE

TELEGRAPHED BY CLOSE OF PLAY ON THURSDAY YOUR TIME.

2. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE REPORT, OR WHAT WE ARE AUTHORISED

TO SAY ABOUT IT SHOULD INCLUDE SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT THAT IT WOULD BE INADVISABLE FOR HOWELL TO SERVE OUTSIDE HIS HOME

ENVIRONMENT FOR THE TIME BEING. THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO ADD, WITH REGRET, THAT HIS RESIGNATION HAS THEREFORE BEEN ACCEPTED.

3. GRATEFUL ALSO FOR ADVICE ON THE ANSWERS WHICH HENRY MIGHT

GIVE TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

(A) HOW COULD A MENTAL CONDITION SERIOUS ENOUGH TO REQUIRE

IMMEDIATE REPATRIATION

1) APPEAR SO SUDDENLY:

(11) NOT HAVE BEEN DETECTED BEFORE.

(B) WHEN WAS HE LAST MEDICALLY EXAMINED BY THE METROPOLITAN

POLICE.

CONFIDENTIAL

/it.

HENRY IS