TNAG-0687-FCO40-836-Disturbances-by-police-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 233

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CONFIDENTIAL

WAS CAUSED TO A WINDOW THE DOORS AND SOME FITTINGS. THE GROUP

DISPERSED BEFORE POLICE ARRIVED ON THE SCENE AND NO ARRESTS WERE

MADE. CP HAS ISSUED A STATEMENT DEPLORING THIS INCIDENT. HE HAS INSTRUCTED THE DISTRICT POLICE COMMANDER HONG KONG ISLAND TO INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENT WITH A VIEW TO CRIMINAL OR DISCIPLINARY

PROCEEDINGS.

12. THE UPSURGE OF RESENTMENT AGAINST ICAC, WHICH IS THE BASIS FOR THE PETITION AND THE EVENTS WHICH DEVELOPED OUT OF IT, WAS SET IN MOTION BY THE LARGE NUMBER OF ARRESTS OF POLICE BY ICAC DURING

SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, A TOTAL OF ABOUT 150, PLUS A FURTHER 70

UNDER QUESTIONING. THIS IS MUCH MORE THAN HAS BEEN UNDER OVERT INVESTIGATION AT ANY ONE TIME BEFORE, AND INCLUDED POLICE FROM

A LARGE NUMBER OF SEPARATE DIVISIONS.

13. WE HAVE ALWAYS RECOGNIZED THE DANGER THAT AS ICAC

INVESTIGATIONS INTO MAJOR SYNDICATED CORRUPTION CAME TO FRUITION, THE LARGE NUMBERS INVOLVED WOULD BE LIKELY TO PROVOKE A

SUBSTANTIAL HOSTILE REACTION FROM MEMBERS OF THE FORCE, PARTIC-

ULARLY THOSE WHO SAW THEMSELVES AS THREATENED.

14. ALL POLICE STATIONS ARE OPERATING NORMALLY. WITH THE EXCEPTION

OF THE UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT AT HUTCHISON HOUSE, NORMAL PETITION PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED.

15. THIS TELEGRAM ANSWERS YOUR TELNO 822 OF 27 OCTOBER. I WILL

TELEGRAPH FURTHER IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS OVER THE WEEK-END,

MACLEHOSE

FILES

HKIGD

ора

MR CORTAZZI

MR STRATTON

COPIESTO

HONG KONG GOUT OFFICE.

CONFIDENTIAL