TNAG-0687-FCO40-836-Disturbances-by-police-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 188

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1048: PROHONGAID LONDON TWO:

GIS 305/77 (ADD)

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MR. SLEVIN SAID HE HAD BEEN VERY AWARE AND CONSCIOUS OF

THE WORRIES OF THE MAJORITY OF THE FORCE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

+1 AM ALSO AWARE THAT THE PROGRESS WHICH WE HAVE MADE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME AND THE IMPROVED RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE PUBLIC IS SOMETHING WHICH HAS RESULTED FROM MUCH HARD WORK AND DEDICATION BY ALL MEMBERS OF THE FORCE.

+WHAT IS NOW IMPORTANT IS THAT ALL OF THIS MUST NOT BE DESTROYED. SHOULD THE PUBLIC LOSE CONFIDENCE IN THE FORCE THIS WOULD LEAD TO DIRE CONSEQUENCES FOR HONG KONG.

+GRIEVANCES AND WORRIES HAVE NO.. BEEN AIRED. I HAVE REPRESENTED THEM TO GOVERNMENT AND, AS YOU KNOW, GOVERNMENT HAS UNDERSTOOD AND HAS ACTED UPON THEM.

+WE HAVE AN EFFECTIVE MACHINE IN THE SHAPE OF THE ASSOCIATIONS FOR SORTING OUT OUR PROBLEMS AND OUR WELFARE. I NOW LOOK TO YOU TO USE THOSE MACHINES.

+AS THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID THERE HAS BEEN SUCCESS IN COMBATTING CORRUPTION THROUGHOUT THE PUBLIC SERVICE AND THE SITUATION IS NOW SUCH THAT THE DECISION TO MOVE AGAINST CURRENT CORRUPTION, AS OPPOSED TO HISTORICAL CASES, REFLECTS THIS.

+THIS IS THE GOVERNOR'S DECISION AND THIS IS NO. THE SITUATION WHICH HAS TO DE ACCEPTED.+

INFORMS HONGKONG==REUTERS

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