TNAG-0687-FCO40-836-Disturbances-by-police-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 16

CONFIDENTIAL

Home Affairs Department Sounding of

Public Reaction to the Governor's

Statement in the Legislative Council (on Monday, 7th November) taken on

8th November 1977 - 820 Respondents

After Amnesty and Governor's state- ment in Legco

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There was unanimous support of the Governor's firm

stand not to accede to the Police's demand for further

concessions. That the community leaders had also spoken out, condemning the small minority in the Police Force who sought to pressurize Government had made the public feel that there was strength and unity in Hong Kong and that Government remained strong and decisive, unperturbed by pressure. This impression of Government is distinctively different from the image of a very weak Government that was reflected by the Amnesty Announcement last Saturday. Government was largely considered at that time to be over-generous and completely incapable of resisting pressure. image and confidence in Government had been reinstated.

The

HE's speech last night had helped to clarify various ambiguities of the Amnesty Announcement, he had also stated clearly the exact number of those Police Officers who would not be absolved despite the Amnesty. The public considered this to be a very correct and clever tactic in that it would quiet down the apprehension of the Force at large, singling out the very small minority (which constituted only 1% of the Force) so that the majority would no longer be led blindly into further agitation. This was believed to have a very significant psychological impact, and had successfully broken the solidarity of the resistance of the Force. Members of the public were also happy with this explanation and they felt appeased.

The public considered that the dramatic series of events starting last Saturday were part and parcel of a well- planned and comprehensive policy that Government had devised in order to tackle the crisis situation.

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