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(l.c)
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of the basic trouble should be over. With the help
of the advice of a police team from London led by one
of HM Inspectors of Constabulary, the administrative and
other defects of the Service can be gradually corrected.
On the other hand the strength of the ICAC is now so
great and its prestige so high that it can be relied
upon to monitor and prevent any resurgence of corruption.
12.
I should make a final point. The pressure which
this Government is applying to achieve rapid reform
and improvement over a wide field is considerable.
Paragraphs 4 and 5 indicate some of the fields of
action this year. Pressure and change of this intensity
in such a confined space as Hong Kong carry risks. At
the turn of 1976/77 there was a serious backlash about
the pace of labour reform and increase in rates.
It was
averted. This year there has been a near-mutiny of
the Police. It has been contained so far. The
conversion of much of Hong Kong into a vast construction
site with all its discomforts and disruption, and the
wholesale removal and rehousing of sections of the
population could also give rise to an explosion.
could the pace of educational reform. It is of course a function of Government to contain the risks that its
So
actions involve, but the existence of these risks to a
high degree in Hong Kong at this time should be noted.
Personally I believe them to be acceptable.
CONFIDENTIAL
Through no
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