TNAG-0679-FCO40-828-Allegations-of-corruption-and-bribery-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 78

Re Liu Ping-hon's Death

p.12

REQUIREMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION

It must be stressed that this submission, which requests that

a new, independent investigation be ordered into the cause of

death of Liu Ping-hon, does not and has not set out to point

an accusing finger at any person or body. The fact remains,

however, that enormous public interest has been generated in

this case, and that, purely objectively, a totally full and

fair investigation has not been seen to have taken place.

The matter involved the police and was solely investigated by

the police, a particularly unfortunate circumstance given the

sudden violent nature of the death and the fact that the

deceased was attached to a particular division of the force

over which, regrettably, the cloud of corruption currently

hangs. Further, whilst the Coroner's Inquiry exemplified a

fair and open-minded hearing the Coroner himself expressly

dispensing with the normal procedural role of his Coroner's

Officer at the inquest in light of the police involvement in

the case it remains a salutary consideration that the

evidential material presented for the Coroner's scrutiny was

itself prepared at all stages by the police. No calumny is

here imputed or intended to be so. But as a matter of general

public importance the death of a young man such as Liu Ping-hon,

whose life in Hong Kong was in many ways a model of social

commitment, should not be allowed to pass without further,

thorough, independent examination.