TNAG-0687-FCO40-836-Disturbances-by-police-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 183

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GIS 393/77 COMMISSIONER EXDIS

THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT BY H.E. THE.GOVERNOR SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE WAS ISSUED FROM GOVERNMENT HOUSE AT 8.45 P.M. TODAY (SATURDAY).

THIS EVENING IN A TELEVISION INTERVIEW, WHICH I RECORDED YESTERDAY, I SAID THAT A GREAT DEAL OF PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE IN WEEDING OUT THE CORRUPT AND THAT THE POLICE FORCE WAS NOW IN A STATE IN WHCH THE VAST MAJORITY HAD NOTHING TO FEAR. I MIGHT HAVE SAID THE SAME ABOUT THE PUBLIC SERVICE AS A WHOLE.

I THINK IT OULD BE HELPFUL IF I MADE CLEAR EXACTLY WHAT

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I MEANT AND WHAT ITS IMPLICATIONS ARE. THIS IS BECAUSE IT IS APPARENT THAT MANY MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL HONG YONG POLICE ARE BEING INFLUENCED BY A FEAR THAT THEY MAY NO. BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR MINOR ACTS COMMITTED LONG AGO. OTHERS WHO HAV NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN CORRUPTION FEEL CONCERNED, RIGHTLY OR WRONGLY, ABOUT THE THREAT THAT HANGS OVER THEIR COLLEAGUES.

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BUT I BELIEVE THE WHOLE POLICE FORCE AND PUBLIC SERVICE ACCEPT THAT THE VAST IMPROVEMENT IN STANDARDS OF HONESTY MUST BE MAINTAINED, THAT THIS IS IN THE INTERESTS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE AS WELL AS OF THE HOLE COMMUNITY, AND THAT NO MERCY SHOULD BE SHOWN TO ANY MAN OR OMAN WHO IN SPITE OF THE NEW SITUATION ABUSES HIS OR HER POSITION. THERE ARE, OF COURSE EXCEPTIONS-THE SMALL NUMBER OF GUILTY MEN WHOSE MAIN CONCERN IS TO AVOID PROSECUTION OR TO REVERT TO THEIR BAD OLD WAYS.

AS YOU KNOW, MR. CATER IS RESPONSIBLE DIRECT TO ME. IN VIEW OF THE PROGRESS MADE WE HAD ENVISAGED ANNOUNCING THAT THE COMMISSION WOULD CONCENTRATE ON CURRENT CORRUPTION CASES, AND THAT BROADLY SPEAKING A STAGE HAD BEEN REACHED IN CLEANING UP THE PUBLIC SERVICE IN WHICH COMPLAINTS ABOUT PAST OFFENCES WOULD NOT NORMALLY BE ACTED ON. WE FELT THAT SUCH AN AOOUNCEMENT WOULD GREATLY RELIEVE THE PUBLIC SERVICE. WE HAD ENVISAGED DOING THIS NEXT SPRING. HOWEVER, IN VIEW OF RECENT EVENTS, AND FOR ALL THE DIFFERENCE A FE. MONTHS WOULD MAKE, I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF THIS WAS DONE IMMEDIATELY.

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