TNAG-0687-FCO40-836-Disturbances-by-police-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 193

CONFIDENTIAL

8. MY STATEMENT HAS BEEN UNDER CONSIDERATION BY THE DIFFERENT

ASSOCIATIONS OF THE POLICE FORCE. HON. MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC

WL BE CONCERNED TO LEARN THAT INFORMALLY IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED

THAT IT DID NOT GO FAR ENOUGH: THAT PRESSURE SHOULD BE MAINTAINED

ON THE ADMINISTRATION BY DEMONSTRATIONS AND PROGRESSIVE REFUSAL

OF LAW ENFORCEMENT UNTIL ALL CURRENT INTERVIEWS, CHARGES AND

COURT PROCEEDINGS NOW IN COURSE WERE DROPPED.

9. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THESE IDEAS WERE BEING PROPAGATED BY THE

LESS THAN 1 PERCENT WHO UNDER THE EXCEPTIONS ! HAVE MENTIONED

REMAIN IN FEAR OF PROSECUTION, AND INSOFAR AS THEY ARE SUPPORTED BY OTHERS IT IS BECAUSE OF A MISTAKEN SENSE OF TEMPORARY

EUPHORIA OR SOLIDARITY. I ASSURE THEM IT IS TIME VERY SOBERLY TO

CONSIDER THEIR POSITION. IT IS FOR THE POLICE TO ANSWER TO LAWFUL

AUTHORITY AND TO ENFORCE IT - NOT TO ANSWER TO A SMALL SELF-

INTERESTED GROUP.

10. THE IDEA THAT PRESSURE CAN ACHIEVE FURTHER CONCESSIONS OF

THIS SORT WOULD RESULT FROM A COMPLETE MISCONCEPTION OF THE MOOD

OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COMMUNITY. IT WOULD ALSO IGNORE THE

TRUE INTERESTS OF AT LEAST 99 PERCENT OF THE POLICE FORCE ITSELF.

NEEDLESS TO SAY IT TOTALLY IGNORES THE TRUE INTERESTS OF

HONG KONG WHERE THE ENFORCEMENT OF LAW AND ORDER AND THE

ACHIEVEMENT OF ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS OF HONESTY HAVE MADE SUCH

STRIDES IN RECENT YEARS.

11. CONCESSIONS TO SUCH DEMANDS UNDER PRESSURE WOULD INVITE

PRESSURE ON OTHER ISSUES: NEXT IT WOULD BE SUPPRESSION OF

ICAC ITSELF, POSSIBLY TO HAVE PERSONS IN PRISON RELEASED, AND SO ON, UNTIL WE HAD A SITUATION IN WHICH THE LAW WAS BEING ADMINISTERED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE CORRUPT. I KNOW THIS IS NOT WHAT MOST OF THE FORCE AND THEIR FAMILIES WANT, BUT THIS IS WHERE

THEY WOULD BE LED IF THE GOVERNMENT WERE TO GIVE ANY FURTHER

GROUND. TO DO SO WOULD YIELD TO ANARCHY AND TO ANARCHY THERE CAN

BE NO CONCESSION. I AM CONFIDENT IN THIS I AM SPEAKING FOR THE

ENTIRE COMMUNITY, YOUNG AND OLD, RICH AND POOR.

12. I HOPE THAT WISER COUNSELS WILL NOW PREVAIL. BUT IT IS

AS WELL THAT ALL SHOULD REALISE NOW, BEFORE IRREVOCABLE ACTION IS TAKEN THAT WE CANNOT ACCEPT THAT POLICEMEN WHO DO NOT ACCEPT

LAWFUL AUTHORITY, OR WHO SUPPORT OTHERS IN NOT

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