CONFIDENTIAL
reduced to acceptable dimensions.
Sir Murray MacLehose said that the ICAC is now devoting all its energies to current cases of corruption and that it is a remarkably efficient force, as Mr Crane
has himself said. The position is further improving as closer
liaison is established between the ICAC and the RHKPF.
Anybody who
tries to return to the old corrupt ways will be quickly caught and
punished.
6. Lord Goronwy-Roberts asked how the use of CR 55 had been received in Hong Kong and the Governor told him that it had been accepted as an abnormal way of dealing with an abnormal situation. Lord Goronwy-Roberts commented that the reaction in the United Kingdom had also been low key. Such reaction as there was, had been favourable. Mr Murray felt that interest in the case would diminish further, unless any of those concerned alleged that they were being treated unfairly, and Sir Murray MacLehose said that the only officer who had tried to protest was in fact patently corrupt and did not represent a serious threat to the policy. It seemed safe to assume that if there was going to be any reaction of this sort, it would have emerged by now. However, the 20 police officers being tried could come to represent a problem, especially if one or more were to be acquitted. This bridge must be crossed if and when we reach it.
7. Mr Stewart said that the FCO is preparing a paper on Colonial Regulations 54 to 61 (which deal with the dismissal of Colonial Civil Servants) to establish the proper criteria for their use in the
future. It is essential that. CR 55 should only be used sparingly.
Sir Murray MacLehose welcomed this, adding that cases in which the accused is unable to appeal inevitably attract critical attention.
8. Lord Goronwy-Roberts mentioned the current BBC television series about the RHKPF and asked how the programmes had been produced.
Sir Murray MacLehose said that the film crew had spent three months in Hong Kong last summer and had received the fullest cooperation from
3
CONFIDENTIAL
/the
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.