TNAG-0815-FCO40-1021-Visit-of-police-advisers-to-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 121

CONFIDENTIAL

(i)

(ii)

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- 3-

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it was generally believed that an objective

critical study of this kind could and should only be carried out usefully by completely impartial assessors/advisers from outside who could speak without fear or favour;

such a critical study was considered essential because there was a vague but firm belief that serious problems existed within the Police Force requiring attention and remedy. This team of experts with their

rich experience should be as good as any for doing this job there being no feasible

alternative.

(b) However, there were doubts as to whether within a few

months the team could resolve the very difficult and complicated problems within the Police which were believed to have been of long standing.

(c) Some respondents also commented that the team's lack

of knowledge about Hong Kong conditions might be a serious impediment in doing the study with sufficient understanding and depth. However, they accepted that such experience and expertees acquired by the team in studying police forces in other territories were equally important and should prove very valuable to enable them to scrutinize the Hong Kong problems in perspective.

TOWN TALK TOPIC

Dispute between the Royal Hong Kong

Jockey Club and the mafoos

(a) There was a considerable amount of spontaneous interest

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and discussion on this subject.

(b) Public opinion largely influenced by the media were, on the

whole, sympathetic towards the mafoos.

(c) Grassroot respondents reacted quite intuitively and rather

strongly to the press version that it was largely the high- handed manner in which the personnel manageress dealt with the chairman of the labour union that led to the whole crisis.

Their view was she should apologise. (They apparently believed the press version of the incident as accurate.)

CONFIDENTIAL # (a).....

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