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Mr Cortazgy
PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts
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ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE
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1. The Governor of Hong Kong has sent a telegram suggesting that Sir Robert Mark, ex-Commissioner Metropolitan Police, be asked to go to Hong Kong for about a year as a Special Adviser to the Police. This, because the recent events in Hong Kong have revealed a serious communications gap between the top command and the rank and file.
2. We were well aware of the morale problem and of the gap in communications between the senior officers of the Hong Kong Police Force and their subordinates. The situation was well described by the Overseas Police Adviser, Mr Macoun, after his
I inspection of the Hong Kong Police in December last year. have myself drawn attention to the state of affairs on more than one occasion after visiting Hong Kong.
3.
Since the events of 28 October and 5 November in Hong Kong we have given some consideration to the clear need for strengthen- ing the senior ranks of the Hong Kong Police and have considered whether it might not be appropriate to draft into that command one or more senior officers from outside.
4.
Neither I nor the Overseas Police Adviser consider that Sir Robert Mark would be an appropriate person to be appointed as a Special Police Adviser in Hong Kong. In the first instance his Police experience is different from, and probably unsuited to, restoring morale in the Hong Kong Police. Second, the circumstances of Sir Robert Mark's resignation (he resigned because he objected to a proposal that complaints against police officers should be considered inter alia by persons outside the Police Force itself) was not such as to inspire confidence either in the United Kingdom or in Hong Kong in his objectivity at approaching such a task. Third, in conversation with the Governor
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