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CONFIDENTIAL Covering SECRET
Mr Murray
bery's
23,
PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts
HKK 382/2
нках
RECEIVED IN REGS Y NO. 51
2 3 NON 1978
DESK OFFICEK
HONG KONG: VISIT OF FORMER POLICE OFFICERS TONDON
:
i
R
STRY
Action Ten
124119 CLE
144
1. The Hong Kong Secretary for Security has warned us, in Hong Kong' telegram No 1329 of 18 November that four representatives of the group of 119 Hong Kong police officers, who were compulsorily retired last April will be arriving in Britain on 23 November, apparently to seek support for a campaign for their reinstatement.
2.
You will recall that the group in question were all serving at the Yaumatei Police Station and were removed under CR55 (the Colonial Regulation which allows the Secretary of State to require the retirement of a public servant in a dependent territory without needing to give reasons or hold any sort of public enquiry) as part of the process of clearing up the backlog following last November's partial amnesty for police officers and others suspected of corruption. A detailed study of the ICAC files relatingto the officers concerned provided sufficient evidence of involvement in a drug protection racket for it not to be in the public interest for them to remain in the Royal Hong Kong Police Force. Since it was not practical for so many individuals to be brought to trial, the Secretary of State agreed to their retirement (with full pension and other terminal benefits) under CR55.
3. We had earlier been informed (Mr Barnes letter of 7 November) that the group whose representatives are now coming to London had been in contact with the two teachers from the Precious Blood Golden Jubilee School who came here in the summer and succeeded in gaining considerable support for their cause from MP's, trade unionists and others. The teachers' visit was co-ordinated by Mr Walter Easey, who runs a London-based organisation called the Hong Kong Research Project, dedicated to exposing injustice and maladministration in Hong Kong. The representatives of the former policemen have also been in contact with Mr Easey, who has agreed to give them assistance in arranging contacts and publicity.
4.
However, when Mr Thompson of this department spoke to Mr Easey a week or two ago, he seemed unhappy about the role he has been a sked
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