TNAG-0687-FCO40-836-Disturbances-by-police-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 214

CONFIDENTIAL

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Police organized by about 100 NCOs of rank and file, a large number of whom are already under investigation. The petition was taken to the Headquarters of the Police Force and received

by Senior Assistant Commissioner Schouten, the third highest

ranking member of the Police Force, who had been nominated by

the Commissioner to meet the petitioners. The petitioners were

told that the Commissioner shared their concern that the proper

procedures should be followed in ICAC investigations, that the Commissioner recognized the strain which investigations placed

on the Force and that the petition would be considered. The petitioners asked to see the Commissioner himself but were told

that Mr Schouten had been nominated as the Commissioner's

representative.

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This reply did not satisfy the petitioners who organized a large meeting in Kowloon, attended by some 3,000 off-duty officers, both local and expatriate, of all ranks up to Inspector. At this meeting the petitioners

decided to march to Police Headquarters the following morning (28 October). On 28 October about 2,000 officers, all off-duty and in plain clothes, and including a number of expatriates, met in Central District Hong Kong and marched in an orderly fashion through the centre of Hong Kong to Police Headquarters in Wan Chai. The Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner saw five representatives of the Police Officers and received a petition said to have been signed by some 11,000 members of the Hong Kong Police Force (total strength 17,400). The meeting was held in a friendly and courteous atmosphere. At the end the leading delegate thanked the Commissioner and told him that "it had been most helpful to clear the air in this way". A summary of the main points of the petition is attached. The Commissioner told the petitioners that their representations would be sympathetically considered. Most of the demonstrators then dispersed. However, a small group of about 40 broke away from the main group and went to ICAC Headquarters. They asked for admission, were refused, and forced

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CONFIDENTIAL