CONFIDENTIAL
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5. In all this Mr Davies is well wide of the mark. We have no evidence at all to suggest that any such package deal was made, or that any pressure has been brought on the Attorney-General not to pursue cases against the Police. On the contrary, the Governor has expressed his frustration at the reluctance of Mr Hobley, a notoriously cautious man, to adopt a more robust line..In
..In a telegram shortly before he left Hong Kong to go on leave, the Governor predicted that many people in Hong Kong would use the amnesty to try to discredit the Hong Kong Government. It is a pity that a journal of the Far Eastern Economic Review's standing should be leading the campaign. But, as the Governor said in the same telegram, ultimately it is action not words that will prove that ICAC is still very much in business and it is on this that we should concentrate. The Governor has now returned to Hong Kong. Before he left he said that he was anxious to get back so that he could judge for himself how things are developing. In the meantime, an Inspector from HM Inspectorate of Constabulary will, at the Governor's request, shortly be going to Hong Kong to assess what steps should be taken to reinforce the Royal Hong Kong Police Force. Among the possibilities that will be considered is the idea, mentioned in Mr Davies' Times article, of sending 40-50 senior police officers on loan from British Forces. Sir Murray MacLehose will also be considering whether it would be helpful for the ICAC Commissioner to come to the UK fairly soon to help convince public (and parliamentary) opinion here of ICAC's continuing determination to eliminate corruption. Our present feeling in the Department is that this would probably be a useful step, although ultimately it is in Hong Kong that the real battle will have to
be won.
30 December 1977
CC:
PS/PUS
Mr Murray o.r.
OPA
News Dept
WE Quantrill
Hong Kong & General Dept
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