TNAG-0631-FCO40-779-Effect-of-GATT-Multi-Fibre-Arrangement-on-Hong-Kong-negotiat-1977 — Page 73

BACKG DUNT NOTE

Attached (296 HKK 121/616/1

1.

THE PEORIT POLICE DISYUR BANO 29 IN HONG FONG

Forde in the Hon; Kong Police Force has been low for sQLO

29,

, largely because of the successful operations of the dopondent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), which was not up du 1974 following the conviction of a particularly notorioua ucliupt neador member of the Poroe. A recent series of relatively large-scoale arrests of police officers suopected of corruption provoked u group of about 100 rank and file policemen, most of whom vore uotually under investigation for corruption, to orgalo a petition to the Police Commissioner. The petitionera vara Guða on 20 October by the third ranking member of the Police Poreo,

who told them the Commissioner chured their concern that ICAC

should follo. correct procedures. The petitioners vore not, however, allowed to see the Commissioner.

2.

biouutisflod, the petitioners organized u maus meoting the kunt day twadd, on the day after that, 28 October, sola 2,000 off- culy police officers ull in plain clothes marched to the Polico

Aquatera. This time a delegation was puen by the Commissioner, vho koooplad a petition said to have been signed by 11,000 nề tha

17,400 men in the Force. Following this, most of the damonstrators

diaperood but about 40 wont to the ICAC offices, When they were ralusad admission & scuffle broke out in which some minor injuries and damage to property varo coused.

3. The Hong Kong Coverment hoped that, following the meeting between the Commissioner and the police representatives, the heut would be taken out of the affair, at least while the Govein-

ment considered the petition. But, during the following week,

there were further protest moetings which showed the resentant

Linst 10AC and its operationid to be atronter and nora duopły

foll tann had been previously thought. By the end of the out the

Commissioner wes no lower confidant that he could control wither

the renk and file or the Inspectorate of the Police Porue.