TNAG-0687-FCO40-836-Disturbances-by-police-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 204

CONTIENENTAL

GR 095

PRIORITY

CYPHER CAT A

PI HONG KONG 051535Z

CONFIDENTIAL

HKK 382/16.

1977

No a d

TO PRIORITY F C O TELNO 1894 OF 5 NOVEMBER 1977 INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDOM,

MY TELNO 1092 REFERS.

FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF GOVERNOR'S STATEMENT,

QUOTE:-

13

See. 15

14

THIS EVENING IN A TELEVISION INTERVIEW, WHICH I RECORDED YESTERDAY, I SAID THAT A GREAT DEAL OF PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE IN VEEDING OUT THE CORRUPT AND THAT THE POLICE FORCE WAS NOW

IN A STATE IN WHICH THE VAST MAJORITY HAD NOTHING TO FEAR. 1

MIGHT HAVE SAID THE SAME ABOUT THE PUBLIC SERVICE AS A WHOLE.

2. I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF I MADE CLEAR EXACTLY WHAT !

MEANT AND WHAT ITS IMPLICATIONS ARE. THIS IS BECAUSE IT IS APPARENT THAT MANY MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE ARE BEING INFLUENCED BY A FEAR THAT THEY MAY NOW BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR MINOR ACTS COMMITTED LONG AGO. OTHERS WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN CORRUPTION FEEL CONCERNED, RIGHTLY OR WRONGLY, ABOUT THE THREAT THAT HANGS OVER THEIR COLLEAGUES.

3. 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 SERVICES AS WELL AS OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, AND THAT NO MERCY SHOULD BE SHOWN TO ANY MAN OR WOMAN WHO IN SPITE OF THE NEW SITUATION ABUSES THEIR POSITION. THERE ARE, OF COURSE EXCEPTIONS SMALL NUMBER OF GUILTY MEN WHOSE MAIN CONCERN IS TO AVOID PROSECUTION OR TO REVERT TO THEIR BAD OLD WAYS.

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4. 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

CONFIDENTIAL

/PUBLIC