TNAG-0735-FCO40-939-Policy-objective-for-the-developing-of-Hong-Kong-in-the-1980-1978 — Page 241

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PRIORITY

GPS 745

CYPHER/CAT A

FM HONG KONG 060926Z

RESTRICTED

RESTRICTED

TO PRIORITY F C O TELNO 1174 OF 6 OCTOBER 1978.

FOR MURRAY FROM GOVERNOR.

MIPT.

1. THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE.

HKK 013/4

RECLA

No at you

WE WERE ALL EXTREMELY CONCERNED AT THE STATE OF THE ROYAL HONG

KONG POLICE FORCE FOLLOWING THE EVENTS OF LAST OCTOBER/NOVEMBER.

THOUGH GENERAL RESENTMENT AT ICAC OPERATIONS, AND THE FEAR OF A GROUP OF PROSECUTION FOR PAST OFFENCES, WERE THE IMMEDIATE CAUSE, THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY MORE TO IT THAN THAT.

AT MY REQUEST THE HOME OFFICE MADE AVAILABLE A MOST EXPERIENCED

TEAM LED BY MR CRANE, ONE OF HM INSPECTORS OF CONSTABULARY, AND A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION OF THE ORGANISATION AND ADMINISTRATION CF POLICE FOLLOWED CONDUCTED JOINTLY WITH THE COMMISSIONER AND HIS STAFF AND THE SECURITY BRANCH OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT. IN BROAD TERMS THE CONCLUSION WAS THAT PROFESSIONALLY THE FORCE WAS WORKING ON THE RIGHT LINES: BUT THAT INTENSE PREOCCUPATION WITH THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME AND THE RAPID EXPANSION, REDEPLOYMENT AND REORGANISATION OF THE FORCE IN RECENT

YEARS TO COMBAT CRIME, HAS HAD A DOUBLE-EDGED EFFECT. SUCCESS AGAINST CRIME, AND IN ACHIEVING AN IMPROVED RELATIONSHIP WITH THE

PUBLIC, HAS BEEN REMARKABLE. BUT IT HAS BEEN TO SOME EXTENT AT THE EXPENSE OF NOT ONLY DISCIPLINE AND CONTROL, BUT ALSO OF ADMINISTRATION, MAN-MANAGEMENT, PERSONNEL RELATIONS AND WELFARE.

SIMULTANEOUSLY SUBJECTED TO THE TWIN PRESSURES OF COMBATTING A CRIME

WAVE AND THE WEEDING OUT OF CORRUPTION, THE FORCE, WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HINDSIGHT, WAS SOMEWHAT OVERDRIVEN AND UNDER-ADMINIST-

ERED.

JOINT RECOMMENDATIONS WERE AGREED AND ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED

AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. MUCH PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN STRENGTH-

ENING AND REORGANISING THE POLICE HEADQUARTERS STRUCTURE AND ALSO

IN IMPROVING IN-SERVICE TRAINING, STAFF RELATIONS, PUBLIC RELATIONS,

THE HANDLING OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST POLICE, AND IN OPERATIONAL

DEPLOYMENT AND EFFICIENCY.

RESTRICTED

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