TNAG-0687-FCO40-836-Disturbances-by-police-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 198

13

GR 210

IMMEDIATE

CYPHER CAT A

FM HONG KONG 070926Z

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

HK5 382/16

No od

TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELNO 1182 OF 7 NOVEMBER 1977 INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON

POLICE FORCE UNREST

Y

1. lcken

YOU WILL RECEIVE LATER TODAY A TELEGRAM BRINGING YOU UP TO DATE ON EVENTS SINCE MY TELNO 1092, 1093 AND 1094 OF 5 NOVEMBER.

2. AS YOU WILL SEE FROM THAT TELEGRAM, THE AMNESTY ANNOUNCED

ON 5 NOV HAS NOT DISPELLED POLICE UNREST.

3. THEREFORE, ON THE ADVICE OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, A BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AT 5PM TODAY, THE EFFECT OF WHICH WILL BE TO EMPOWER THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE TO DISMISS SUMMARILY ANY POLICE OFFICER FOR DISOBEDIENCE OF ORDERS.

4. I EXPECT THAT ALL STAGES OF THE BILL WILL BE COMPLETED TODAY.

5. I AM AWARE OF THE OBJECTIONS WHICH MAY BE RAISED TO THIS

COURSE, THOUGH IT COULD BE SAID TO BE AN EXTENSION TO ALL RANKS OF THE FORCE OF THE SUMMARY PROCEDURE FOR DISMISSAL OF

CONSTABLES WITH LESS THAN 10 YEARS SERVICE CONTAINED IN

SECTION 23 OF THE POLICE FORCE ORDINANCE.

6. I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT HAVING BEEN ABLE TO CONSULT YOU IN ADVANCE, BUT EVENTS HAVE MOVED TOO URGENTLY TO PERMIT THIS.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

HK & GD (5) NEWS D PS PS/PUS

MR CORTAZZI MR STRATTON MR MURRAY

OPA

COPIES TO

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE

6 GRAFTON STREET, W1

CONFIDENTIAL