TNAG-0687-FCO40-836-Disturbances-by-police-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 111

CA ETO

CYPHER/CAT A

FM

KONG 140301Z

86

CONFIDENTIAL

HKK 382/16

1.5 NOV 1977

CONFIDENTIAL

TO PRIORITY F.C.O TELNO.1132 OF 14 NOVEMBER.

FOLLOWING FOR LORD CORONWY-RCBERTS FROM GOVERNOR.

POLICE/ICAC.

1. WE HAVE GOT THROUGH THE TRAUMA OF THE LAST TEN DAYS WITH

REMARKABLY UNANIMOUS SUPPORT IN HONG KONG. HOWEVER, AS THE FEAR OF A BREAKDOWN IN LAW AND ORDER RECEDES, AND AS CRITICISM IN THE UK IS REPORTED HERE, I EXPECT THE POSITION TO CHANGE.

2. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE HERE OR IN THE U.K WHO WISH TO

DISCREDIT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, AND I ASSUME THEY WILL

TRY TO USE THE AMNESTY TO DO SO,

3. IN THE LONG RUN ACTIONS RATHER THAN WORDS WILL PROVE THAT

ICAC IS STILL VERY MUCH IN BUSINESS AND THAT AS MUCH IMPORTANCE

IS ATTACHED TO ITS WORK AS EVER. BUT THIS WILL TAKE TIME

AND MEANWHILE THE MAJOR PROBLEM IS PRESENTATION.

NEXT WEEK I WILL BE MEETING M.PS AND THE PRESS IN LONDON. DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF JACK CATER WERE TO ACCOMPANY ME TO THESE MEETINGS ? THIS COULD AT LEAST DISPEL THE CONCERN EVIDENT IN LORD SHEPHERD'S AND LORD RHODES' INTERVENTIONS ON NOVEMBER 10 THAT HE AND I MAY HAVE BEEN AT CROSS PURPOSES, OR THAT ICAC OPERATIONS HAVE STOPPED.

5. IF YOU AGREE CATER FEELS HE COULD BE SPARED FOR THE TIME

NECESSARY.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

27

HK&GD (5)

OPA

NEWS DEPT

PS

FS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS

PS/PUS

SIR A DUFF MR CORTAZZI MR MURRAY

MR STRATTON

CONFIDENTIAL