TNAG-0494-FCO40-559-Establishment-of-Anti-Corruption-Commission-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 51

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83) (84)

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REGISTRY No. 51 (H) - 4 SEP 1974

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TELNO 766 DATED 3 SEPTEMBER 1974

READ OF CID

HKK 14/17:

1. THE METROPOLITAN POLICE HAVE HAD A TELEPHONE CALL FROM

HOWELLS SAYING THAT HE INTENDS TO RESIGN. APPARENTLY HE

WOULD SAY NO MORE ON THE TELEPHONE,

2. THE COMMISSIONER IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AND IS

CONSIDERING SENDING OUT COMMANDER JOHN MORRISON, WHO IS

HOWELLS FORMER BOSS, TO SEE IF HE CAN SORT MATTERS OUT,

ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER WOODS WILL ALSO TRY TO TELEPHONE

SLEVIN TODAY,

3. IT SEEMS EXTRAORDINARY THAT AN EXPERIENCED METROPOLITAN

POLICEMAN WHO WAS FULLY BRIEFED AND ANXIOUS TO COME TO

HONG KONG, SHOULD GIVE UP SO QUICKLY, THERE HAS BEEN A

CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PUBLICITY ABOUT HIS APPOINTMENT: AND

HIS RESIGNATION WOULD INEVITABLY ATTRACT UNFAVOURABLE

ATTENTION.

4. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR EARLY COMMENTS ON THE SITUATION

AND ON THE IDEA OF A VISIT BY MORRISON,

CALLAGHAN

FILES

HKIOD

OPA

MR MALE

PA

B

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