TNAG-0704-FCO40-869-Corruption-cases-proposed-by-Hong-Kong-for-dismissal-under-C-1978 — Page 38

ER 480

IMMEDIATE

CYPHER CAT A

SECRET

HKA 412/393/4

COPI

OF

34

FM HONG KONG 311050Z

SECRET

Anton Taken

TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELNO 492 OF 31 MARCH 1978

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON (PERSONAL FOR COMMISSIONER)

FOLLOWING FOR STEWART, HONG KONG AND GENEARL DEPARTMENT.

MY TELNO 383: YAUMATEI,

ส

29

38 37A, 37,

1. WE HAVE NOW GONE FIRM ON 7 APRIL AS THE DATE FOR THE OPERATION.

THOSE CONCERNED WILL BE TOLD TO REPORT AT VARIOUS POLICE STATIONS AT 10 AM THAT MORNING, THEY WILL THEN BE DEALT WITH IN ONE OF THREE WAYS:

A. A LETTER SAYING THAT NO FURTHER ACTION WILL BE TAKEN :

B. A LETTER OF COMPULSORY RETIREMENT UNDER CR 55: OR

C. A SUMMONS TO APPEAR IN COURT RETURNABLE ON EITHER THE MONDAY OR

TUESDAY FOLLOWING.

2. THE LIKELY NUMBERS INVOLVED ARE ABOUT 30, 120 AND 30 RESPECTIVELY,

BUT WE CANNOT BE SURE UNTIL THE AG HAS TAKEN HIS FINAL DECISION

ON 4 APRIL.

3. I HAVE NOW DECIDED THAT WE CAN BEST REDUCE THE RISK OF REACHING

A FLASH POINT, AND KEEP THOSE CONCERNED UNDER POLICE DISCIPLINE (AND THUS LIABLE TO SUMMARY DISMISSAL WITHOUT PENSION), BY TELLING THOSE DEALT WITH UNDER CR 55 THAT THEIR EMPLOYMENT WILL BE TERMINATED AS FROM THE EXHAUSTION OF THEIR ACCUMULATED LEAVE, THE

LATTER TO COMMENCE AS FROM 7 APRIL. (THIS WOULD BE INSTEAD OF A PERIOD OF NOTICE AS ENVISAGED IN PARA 2(A) OF MY TUR). THE AMOUNT WILL OF COURSE VARY FROM INDIVIDUAL TO INDIVIDUAL. ALL WILL CEASE TO CARRY OUT POLICE DUTIES AS FROM 7 APRIL. THE DRAFT TEXT OF A REVISED LETTER IN THIS SENSE IS IN MIFT. I WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR AGREEMENT TO ITS WORDING, BY APRIL 1ST MORNING,

OUR TIME IF POSSIBLE.

46

SECRET

14.