Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1
16
A G Tilton Esq Thatch Cottage Trehaddle
Cusgarne Truro Cornwall
Telephone 01-
Your reference
Our reference HKK 14/1
REF.
14
Date
21 January 1975
NEXT
REF.
Thank you for your interesting letter of 17 January. taken the liberty of forwarding a copy to John Prendergast.
I have
I agree that the
case is disturbing. What is needed and what is happening is the sort of thorough going re-organisation which you describe so well from your time in Shanghai. The only point where I would part company with you is your estimate that this can be achieved in a matter of days. The Anti-Corruption Commission have got to work within the law, and the administration of Hong Kong has to be carried on while they do their job. There are over 16,000 officers and men in the Royal Hong Kong Police Force alone, from whom the corrupt individuals have to be weeded out and the honest ones supported. This must take time. When I was in Hong Kong last week with the Minister, Lord Goronwy-Roberts, the Governor told him he thought it would take two years to break the back of the problem. I fear he may be right.
A C Stuart
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.
PA
BD
23/1
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