TNAG-0736-FCO40-940-Local-Intelligence-Committee-assessment-of-political-situati-1978 — Page 25

GR 1250

IMMEDIATE

HER/CAT A

FM HONG KONG 020925Z

SECRET

SECRET

HKK 014/11.10.51 #кканн

·3 MAY 1978

PAK OFFICER INDEX

PA

ادم

TO IMMEDIATE F.C.O TELNO.550 OF 2 MAY 78,

INFO PEKING, CANBERRA, SINGAPORE,

INFO SAVING WELLINGTON.

PLEASE PASS TO CABINET OFFICE FOR SECRETARY J.I.C.

FOLLOWING IS THE L.1.C ASSESSMENT FOR APRIL 1978.

ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE.

1. ON 7TH APRIL ACTION WAS TAKEN BY GOVERNMENT TO DEAL WITH

THOSE INVOLVED IN THE YAUMATE! CASE, THE ONE MAJOR CASE WHICH

FELL OUTSIDE THE AMNESTY IN NOVEMBER. THIRTY SEVEN POLICE

OFFICERS WERE INFORMED THAT NO FURTHER ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN

AGAINST THEM, ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN WERE COMPULSORILY RETIRED FROM THE FORCE UNDER CR 55 AND TWENTY WERE SERVED

WITH SUMMONSES TO APPEAR IN COURT ON CHARGES OF CORRUPTION.

THE MAJORITY ACCEPTED THESE MEASURES CALMLY ALTHOUGH A FEW

PROTESTED THEIR INNOCENCE. THE JUNIOR POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION (JPOA) COMMITTED ITSELF TO PROVIDING FINANCIAL, MORAL AND LEGAL SUPPORT FOR THOSE TO BE PROSECUTED AND AGREED

TO FORWARD COMPLAINTS WHICH WERE OF A MINOR NATURE TO THE AUTHORITIES ON BEHALF OF THOSE TO BE COMPULSORILY RETIRED. AN INITIAL STRONG REACTION FROM THE RADICAL KOWLOON EAST DISTRICT OF THE JPOA, WHICH URGED THE YAUMATEI GROUP TO PROTEST WAS IGNORED BY THE MAJORITY WHO APPEARED TO BE SATISFIED WITH THE MEASURES TAKEN BY GOVERNMENT. THE NEWS MEDIA AND THE PUBLIC GENERALLY ENDORSED GOVERNMENT'S ACTION ALTHOUGH THERE

WAS SOME MILD CRITICISM OF THE USE OF CR 55.

2. WHEN SOME OF THE POLICE OFFICERS AFFECTED EXAMINED THE

IMPLICATIONS OF RETIREMENT UNDER CR 55 MORE CLOSELY, THEY

CLAIMED THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED LEGAL ADVICE TO THE EFFECT

THAT THEIR CHANCES OF EMIGRATING FROM HONG KONG WOULD BE

SECRET

/PREJUDICED