TNAG-0816-FCO40-1022-Police-corruption-Independent-Commission-Against-Corruption--1978 — Page 94

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CYPHER CAT A

FM HONG KONG 171120Z

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Redacted under FOI exemption 40(2)

HKK382/2

1 ~ MAR 1978

TO ROUTINE F C O TELNO 345 OF 17 MARCH 1978

INFO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON.

FA

MIPT: ASSESSMENT OF THE JUNIOR POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION

JPOA)

73

DESPITE THE PASSAGE OF TIME IT IS STILL DIFFICULT TO MAKE AN

ACCURATE ASSESSMENT OF THE ATTITUDES OF INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE

JPO A LEADERSHIP. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE HOLDS AD HOC MEETINGS

WITH NO FORMAL RECORDS. IT IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO DISCOVER WHAT HAS BEEN DECIDED, LET ALONE WHO HAS SAID WHAT.

2. WITH THESE RESERVATIONS HOWEVER, PRESENT EVIDENCE SUGGESTS

THAT, OF THE 18 MAN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, ONLY TWO OR POSSIBLY THREE SHOULD PROPERLY BE CONSIDERED RADICALS”. (1.E. SUPPORTERS

OF THOSE INVOLVED IN THE YAUMATEI CASE WHO PRESS FOR A MORE MILITANT POSTURE INCLUDING, IF NECESSARY, UNLAWFUL ACTION.) THEΠ''RADICALS' HOWEVER HAVE CONSIDERABLE SUPPORT AMONGST THE 93 UNIT REPRESENTATIVES. SOME SIX MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, INCLUDING

CAN BE CLASSED AS COMPARATIVELY

''NODERATE'' (1.E. ALTHOUGH PRESSING FOR THE JPOA TO PLAY A GREATER ROLE, THEY ARE TRYING TO PROJECT A FAVOURABLE PUBLIC IMAGE AND STAY WITHIN THE LAW). THE REMAINDER OF THE EXECUTIVE

COMMITTEE ARE UNKNOWN QUANTITIES WHO TEND TO BOW TO THE PREVAIL-

ING WIND. OVERALL, WE BELIEVE THAT A MAJORITY OF BOTH THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, AND THE 93 UNIT REPRESENTATIVES OF THE JPOA,

WOULD PREFER, IF THEY COULD, TO CONCENTRATE ON WELFARE AND OTHER ISSUES AFFECTING THE FORCE AS A WHOLE.

3. AT PRESENT HOWEVER THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE. THE YAUMATEI CASE

TOTALLY DOMINATES THE ACTIVITIES AND THINKING OF THE JPO A. THOSE

INVOLVED IN THE CASE FORM A POWERFUL AND DETERMINED PRESSURE GROUP. THE INTERDICTED OFFICERS HAVE NOTHING TO DO EXCEPT PLAN

ATTEMPTS TO WIN JPOA OR PUBLIC SUPPORT. THE JPOA MEETING OF

SECRET

/2 MARCH (MY TEL