RECORD OF CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS AND THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG HELD AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ON TUESDAY, 22 NOVEMBER 1977 AT 10AM.
Present:
Lord Goronwy-Roberts of
Caernarvon and of Ogwen
Mr HA H Cortazzi
Mr HRG Hurst
Mr JAB Stewart
Mr A Smith
Mr W E Quantrill
Mr J L Jones
Mr J Thompson
Mr CMD Hull
Sir Murray MacLehose
GBE KCMG KCVO
Mr DC Bray CMG CVO
HKK, 026/3
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Lord Goronwy-Roberts raised the question of the recent police disturbances in Hong Kong and, in particular, wondered why the Governor had not felt able to contact the FCO before announcing the amnesty. He accepted that granting the amnesty was within the Governor's powers but would have been glad of advance warning or consultation.
2.
Sir Murray MacLehose gave a brief summary of the events leading up to the granting of the amnesty, emphasising that both he and police headquarters had been quite sure that the adverse reaction to the attack by a small number of police officers on ICAC headquarters had shown that there was little support within the police force for the activities of the dissident minority. As a result when, late on 4 November, talk first started of police officers refusing to carry out. duties and demanding an amnesty it took all concerned by surprise. By the morning of 5 November it had become clear that initial grievances listed in the petition had been for- gotten and that the amnesty was the prime requirement. During the day of 5 November senior police officers tried to establish exactly what was happening and it was not until 3pm that a meeting to consider what action to take could be held. By that time the Commissioner assessed that, even with the support of the Army, he could not rely on his men to act against the dissidents and an amnesty was therefore considered essential. Further consultations on the terms and, subsequently,with Sir Y K Kam took until 8pm and Sir Murray felt it imperative that the amnesty be announced that night. He considered that,
/in view
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